Compartmentalized container loading and management system

ABSTRACT

A compartmentalized container loading and management system for loading compartmentalized containers, such as blister cards. A single system may be utilized to hand-load many different types of blister cards having different numbers of wells arranged in different patterns. Systems of the types described herein may include a docking station, a container locator, and a controller. The docking station may include visible information locations which provide visible information proximate wells of a docked blister card to indicate the well which should be loaded. The visible information locations may be changed to match the number, arrangement and pattern of the wells. A container locator may locate the blister card with wells at known positions of the docking station so that visible information may be associated with each well. A controller may control the visible information locations to provide visible information matching the pattern of the wells of each blister card.

FIELD

The field relates generally to compartmentalized containers, and moreparticularly, to systems, apparatus and methods for improved efficiencyin compartment loading and management of the container and compartmentcontents.

BACKGROUND

Compartmentalized containers are an increasingly-used type of containerused for holding items such as prescription and non-prescriptionmedicaments, nutriceuticals, and other things, such as parts. Eachcompartment of a compartmentalized container may be sized and shaped asdesired to hold one or more item and may, for example, be arranged in apattern enabling the compartmentalized container to hold the items in adesired order or sequence.

For instance in the healthcare field, a pharmacy such as a retailpharmacy, a hospital pharmacy, a long-term care facility pharmacy,and/or a mail order pharmacy, may utilize compartmentalized containersfor fulfillment of patient prescription orders. The pharmacy may loadcompartments of the compartmentalized container with medicaments inaccordance with a patient prescription order and may arrange themedicaments in the sequence in which the medicaments should be taken bythe patient according to the prescription order, for example atbreakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime. Once closed, the compartmentalizedcontainer may be provided to the patient as a single, convenientpackage.

Blister cards are a well-known type of compartmentalized container used,for example, by pharmacies for fulfillment of patient prescriptionorders and for providing pre-loaded unit-of-use type packages ofmedicaments, nutriceuticals, and potentially other items. A blister cardmay consist of a thin sheet of material with a plurality of cells,referred to generally as wells, provided therein. The well bottom andside walls provide a compartment for holding one or more medicament orother item. The wells may be of any desired shape and volumetric size,and may be of any number and arrangement. Each well may have an upperopening through which one or more medicament is loaded into the well.Typically, a closure, such as of paperboard, foil, or other material(s)is placed over all of the wells to close the blister card to provide aclosed package. The closed blister card is then ready for delivery tothe patient or other person, providing a convenient package for themedicaments or other items therein. The material used to make theblister card and wells is typically transparent, translucent, orotherwise light-transmissive, enabling a person to view the medicamentsor other items within each well without removing the closure.

Certain blister cards are referred to as push-through packs. In apush-through pack, the material in which the wells are formed iscollapsible by pushing with a human finger. The closure of the blistercard may be breakable so that the medicament or other item within thewell can be pushed through the closure and out of the blister card foruse.

In the healthcare field, blister cards may be used as compliance oradherence containers to facilitate compliance and adherence withprescription instructions provided by the patient's physician. For thispurpose, the blister card wells may be provided in a quantity and anarrangement or pattern to correspond with a period of days, such as thedays of a week, the days of a month, or the days of multiple months. Thepatient can access the content(s) of each well at the appropriate dateand time, increasing the likelihood that the patient will follow thephysician's prescription instructions.

As an illustration, a blister card with wells arranged for days of aweek may include 28 wells arranged in four rows and seven columns. Eachrow may correspond to the time of day at which the medicament is to betaken (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime) while each of the sevencolumns may correspond to a separate day of the week (e.g.,Sunday-Saturday). The volume of the wells may be sized to hold anyquantity of medicaments. As mentioned, information applied to theclosure may indicate in text or symbolic form the time and day of theweek at which the medicaments are to be taken. Such a blister card mayconveniently provide an entire week's prescription medicaments arrangedby time and day at which the medicaments are to be taken by the patient.

By way of further example, a blister card with wells provided for asingle medication dose for each day of a month may include 32 wellsarranged in a pattern of four rows and eight columns. A sufficientnumber of wells may be filled to meet the patient's needs for the month.The medicaments may be taken in the sequence in which the wells arearranged. Wells may be skipped or unfilled for days on which a dose isnot required. More than one medicament type may be provided in each wellif desired and the wells may be volumetrically sized accordingly.

Similarly, blister cards for multiple months may be provided with, forexample, 60 wells arranged in a pattern of ten rows and six columns or90 wells arranged in an offset pattern of ten rows and nine columns. Inother embodiments, wells of a blister card may be arranged in aring-shaped pattern, a rectangular-shape pattern, or in any otherpattern. Near limitless patterns and arrangements of wells and wellsizes may be utilized depending on the needs of the pharmacy or otherprovider.

In fields outside of pharmacy healthcare, it may be desirable to providea blister card with any number and arrangement of wells for packaging ofitems such as nutriceuticals, vitamins, mechanical parts, decorativeitems or other things.

A disadvantage of blister cards in the healthcare field is that blistercards cannot be used easily as compliance or adherence containers, or aspackaging generally, if more than one type of medicament is required tobe in the blister card. This is because of the complexity of loadingpotentially different medicaments into the different wells of the sameblister card. As can be appreciated, a typical blister card may includemany adjacent look-alike wells and great care must be taken to ensurethat the proper medicament is placed in the correct well, especially ifthere is a required order or sequence in which the medicaments are to betaken by the patient. Consequently, blister cards utilized in thehealthcare field are frequently limited to use with just a single typeof medicament in each well so that the blister card can be filled by anautomated packager, such as a form-fill-seal machine.

It is the practice of some pharmacies to provide compliance or adherencecontainers by hand-loading different types of medicaments into a singleblister card. Frequently, the instructions for such hand-loading are onwritten instructions printed sheet of paper. The technician orpharmacist must read the instructions, obtain the needed medicament(s),and then follow the instructions to load the medicaments into theappropriate well. This process must be performed for each well and eachmedicament for each blister card. From a human factors standpoint,hand-loading of a blister card with different medicament types usingprinted instructions is tedious and time consuming requiring manyrepetitive actions by the person responsible for loading the blistercard. And, while quite unlikely, errors could occur because of thenumber of repetitive actions required and the need to take one's eyesaway from the blister card to read the instructions.

Indicator-directed systems exist to increase the efficiency ofhand-loading of blister cards with different types of medicaments.Examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,672,327 (Chudy et al.) andU.S. Pat. No. 7,856,327 (Zieher). The pharmacist or technician followsthe light(s) provided by the system and places a medicament into eachwell indicated by each light.

An important limitation of these types of systems, however, is that theyare incapable of meeting a pharmacy's full range of needs with respectto fulfilling prescription orders. More specifically, the foregoingtypes of systems are limited to use with a single type of blister card.As discussed above, numerous different types of blister cards exist tomeet the important need of providing a compliance or adherence containertailored to the unique prescription requirements of each patient.Existing indicator-directed systems are limited because the indicatorsare spaced apart from one another in a fixed position with the fixedpositions in an arrangement matching the location of the well or cellwhich is to be loaded. If the blister card wells do not match thearrangement of the indicators, then the indicators are inoperative toinstruct the user with respect to which well is to be loaded, verified,or possibly unloaded, and the blister card cannot be used with thesystem. This limitation effectively limits use of the existingindicator-directed systems to a single type of blister card, which isunsatisfactory for a pharmacy needing to utilize different types ofblister cards to meet the varied needs of its many patient customers.

There is a need for a compartmentalized container loading system,apparatus, and methods which would improve the process of loadingmedicaments and other items into a compartmentalized container, whichwould facilitate more accurate loading of medicaments and other itemsinto a compartmentalized container, which could be used with more thanone type of compartmentalized container, and which in a pharmacysetting, would reduce the time needed to manage medicaments and otheritems, thereby freeing personnel for other important healthcare-relatedtasks and providing an opportunity to improve the quality of care whichcan be offered.

SUMMARY

Systems, apparatus and methods for compartmentalized container loadingand management are described herein. The systems, apparatus, and methodsmay facilitate rapid and accurate hand-loading of compartmentalizedcontainers as well as management and organization of items, such asmedicaments, to be loaded into the containers. In a pharmacy setting,the systems, apparatus, and methods may be used, for example, toefficiently create compliance or adherence containers to improve patientcompliance with a physician's prescription instructions. In settingsother than in a pharmacy, the systems, apparatus, and methods may beused, for example, to efficiently perform tasks such as loading,verifying, unloading, and closing of compartmentalized containers.Therefore, systems as described herein have potential application in avariety of different fields.

In general, embodiments of a system used to load the compartmentalizedcontainers may include a docking station, a container locator, and acontroller. Other components such as a video display and user inputdevices, may be included. In embodiments, the docking station mayprovide visible information cues which prompt a user to load amedicament or other item into a designated compartment of a containerdocked at the docking station. The cues can be provided forcompartmentalized containers having many different arrangements andpatterns of compartments, thereby enabling a single system to functionwith many different types and styles of containers.

In embodiments, the compartmentalized containers used with the systemmay have a light-transmissive body and compartments which may be of awell type. Blister cards are an example of one type of compartmentalizedcontainer meeting this description and which can be utilized by thesystem. The blister card wells may be selected to have any requirednumber of wells and the wells may be arranged in a plurality ofdifferent patterns.

In embodiments, the visible information cues may be provided by a videodisplay of the docking station and the blister cards or other containersmay overlie the screen of the video display for the container loading.Examples of video displays may include a light emitting diode (LED)display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a liquidcrystal display (LCD) display, and a plasma display.

The video display may provide visible information locations anywhereacross a screen of the display and the visible information locations mayprovide visible information to a user. The visible information locationsof the display may be changed and may be operable across the screen in aplurality of different patterns, including the well pattern of aselected blister card when such container overlies the display. Thevisible information locations provide visible information in theselected pattern to provide visible information which may be viewablethrough the body of the blister card or other container proximate eachwell or other compartment. The controller may control the visibleinformation locations of the display to match any desired pattern ofwells or other compartments and to provide light, image or other visibleinformation proximate each well to provide the visible prompt to theuser with respect to the well to be loaded, verified, unloaded orotherwise acted upon. A further video display operatively connected tothe controller may display information replicating the visibleinformation provided by the docking station.

In order for the system to control the required visible informationlocations, the wells or other compartments must be at locations, orpositions, across the video display which are known to the system. Toaccomplish this a container locator may be associated with the dockingstation and display. The locator may provide at least onecontainer-locating position which locates the blister card wells orother container compartments at the known positions of the dockingstation and display.

In an embodiment, a container locator may consist of a fixture and atleast one portable tray, which may be a blister card tray. The fixturemay be associated with a single location of the docking station and mayhave at least one tray-locating position overlying the display. Thetray-locating position may receive at least one portable tray with ablister card supported thereon at a single position with the wells ofthe blister card over known positions of the display. Each tray-locatingposition may be defined by a plurality of fixture walls and the blistercard tray may be sized to fit within the walls in the single position.With the tray and its blister card supported at a known position overvideo display, the location of each well or other compartment is knownto the system. Visible information can then be provided at the knownpositions of the wells so that the visible information may be viewablethrough the wells.

Fixtures used with the system may be interchangeable. For example,certain fixtures may have two tray-locating positions and other fixturescould have four tray-locating positions. One of these fixtures could beinterchanged with another of these fixtures. In embodiments where aplurality of tray-locating positions are provided, the fixture enablesplural blister card trays to be simultaneously located over differentportions of the display. In embodiments, the fixtures may be portable sothat they, and any trays thereon, can be easily carried by a user.

In embodiments, the trays may include a top side and a bottom. The topside may support a blister card and define well-receiving openings in apattern matching the pattern of the wells and through which the wellsare inserted. The bottom may be open under each opening, therebyenabling the visible information to be viewed through the opening whenthe tray is over the display. The trays may be interchangeable withother blister card trays sized to be received in a respectivetray-locating position of a fixture.

Unique machine-readable identification elements may be used to quicklyand accurately identify a particular type of blister card or othercontainer being used with the system and to make a record. For example,a unique machine-readable identification element may be associated witheach of the fixture, the at least one tray-locating position, and eachtray such that an association of a particular tray with the at least onetray-locating position and fixture may be made. Once the association ismade, the system can access a record which identifies the exact locationof each well over the display and can operate the visible informationsources proximate or associated with each such location.

Also disclosed is a sealing workstation which may be used to apply atri-panel closure to a blister card loaded with the system. Thetri-panel closure may include patient-specific information describingmedicament items in the blister card and the date and time at which themedicaments are to be taken by the patient.

Other aspects of the inventions are described and illustrated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary compartmentalized container loading and container managementsystems may be understood by reference to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals identify like elements throughout the differentviews. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead beingplaced upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The drawingsdepict only embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to beconsidered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the accompanyingdrawings:

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a first embodiment of a compartmentalizedcontainer in the form of a blister card having 28 wells;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a second embodiment of a compartmentalizedcontainer in the form of a blister card having 31 wells;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a third embodiment of a compartmentalizedcontainer in the form of a blister card having 32 wells;

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate examples of types of blister card wells that maybe used with the system;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a workstation and an embodiment of acompartmentalized container loading system according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the docking station of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the docking station of thecompartmentalized container loading system of FIG. 5 including anexemplary 4-position fixture, four blister card trays, and four blistercards;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of the docking station of FIG. 6showing exemplary relationships of a video display, fixture, blistercard trays and blister cards;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the docking station of FIG. 6 with the fixtureand trays removed and the video display in an inactive state;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the docking station of FIG. 9 but with thevideo display in an active state providing visible information from fourgroups of visible information locations;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial plan view of the docking station takenalong detail section 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 11 but including afixture, a blister card tray and visible information viewable throughthe wells;

FIG. 13A is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 12 showing a firstmedicament type loaded in the wells proximate the visible information;

FIG. 13B is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 12 but showingdifferent visible information viewable through other wells and a secondmedicament type loaded in the wells proximate such visible information;

FIG. 13C is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 13B but during averification process;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a 4-position fixture:

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a 28-well blister card tray and theblister card of FIGS. 1A-1C;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the blister card tray of FIG. 15 butwith the blister card removed;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the docking station of FIG. 5 but with anexemplary 2-position fixture, two blister card trays and two blistercards;

FIG. 18 is a partially exploded view of the docking station of FIG. 17showing exemplary relationships of the video display, fixture, blistercard trays and blister cards;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the docking station of FIG. 17 but with thevideo display in an active state providing visible information from twogroups of visible information locations;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged partial plan view taken along detail section20-20 of FIG. 19 including portions of a two-position fixture, a blistercard tray and visible information viewable through the wells;

FIG. 21A is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 20 showing a firstmedicament type loaded in the wells proximate the visible information;

FIG. 21B is the enlarged partial plan view of FIG. 21 but showingdifferent visible information viewable through other wells and a secondmedicament type loaded in the wells proximate such visible information;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a 2-position fixture;

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of a 32 well blister card tray, the blistercard of FIGS. 3A-3C and a cover;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the blister card tray of FIG. 23 but withthe blister card removed;

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary compartmentalizedcontainer loading system;

FIGS. 26-37 are exemplary video display screen displays for selectedworkflow processes which may be implemented according to the invention;

FIGS. 38-41 are perspective views illustrating an exemplary blister cardsealing station and tri-panel closure which may be applied by means ofthe sealing station; and

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of acompartmentalized container loading system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-25, there are shown embodiments of an exemplarysystem 10 for compartmentalized container loading. In embodiments,system 10 may also provide for verification, unloading and other tasksrelating to the containers and their contents. System 10 providesinformation to assist human users with rapid and accurate hand-loadingof items, such as medicaments 11, into compartmentalized containers,such as blister-card-type containers, three examples of which 13, 15, 17are illustrated in FIGS. 1A-3C and described herein. The informationprovided by system 10 may also be utilized to verify the contents ofeach compartment, for unloading of the contents from each compartmentand for other tasks.

In general and referring to FIGS. 5 and 25, embodiments of exemplarysystem 10 for compartmentalized container loading may include a dockingstation 19, one or more controller 21, a container locator 23 and avideo display 25. System 10 may further include related components ofthe types described herein. System 10 may be employed at a workstation26 which may be located in a pharmacy or other healthcare setting.

System 10 may be advantageously configured such that a single system 10provides information needed to load many different types ofcompartmentalized containers having different structure and differentshapes and sizes, as can be understood by comparison of blister cards13, 15, 17. And, the information provided by a single system 10 may beused to verify or unload the contents of these different types ofcontainers. The capability of a single system 10 to function with morethan one type of compartmentalized package enables a pharmacy to meetthe varied prescription needs of its many patient customers through useof packaging constructed to encourage compliance with each patient'sunique prescription order.

It is envisioned that embodiments of system 10 may be utilized in thehealthcare industry such as by a retail pharmacy, a hospital pharmacy, along-term care facility pharmacy, and/or a mail-order pharmacy. In suchpharmacy settings, system 10 would be effective to improve prescriptionorder fulfillment, to improve packaging and to provide medicaments 11more generally. For simplicity and brevity, reference number 11 is usedto refer to medicaments generally including medicaments 11 a, 11 b, 11 cand 11 d illustrated in the drawings.

However, it should be understood that embodiments of system 10 may haveapplication in fields outside of the healthcare industry for loading,verifying, unloading or performing other tasks in connection withpackaging of items other than medicaments 11 into a compartmentalizedcontainer. For example, system 10 according to the invention may beutilized to load nutriceuticals, parts, or other things into acompartmentalized container (e.g., a blister card 13, 15, 17) and toverify, unload and/or perform other tasks with respect to the containerand its contents.

System 10 makes the tedious, labor-intensive, and time-consuming processof loading, verifying and/or unloading compartmentalized containers suchas blister cards 13, 15, 17 easier and faster, particularly if differenttypes of medicaments 11 must be loaded into separate wells 43 of thesame blister card 13, 15, 17. Exemplary system 10 therefore, provides anopportunity for better patient care because there is an improvedconfidence level that the correct medicament 11 is being provided to thepatient in accordance with the physician's instructions and because timesaved in packaging medicaments 11 can be allocated to other aspects ofpatient care provided by the pharmacy, hospital, long-term care facilityand/or other caregiver.

Referring first to FIGS. 1A-3C, these figures illustrate examples ofdifferent types of compartmentalized containers in the form of blistercards 13, 15, 17. Each blister card 13, 15, 17 illustrated in FIGS.1A-3C has a different structure, shape and size as is apparent fromcomparison of the blister cards 13, 15, 17. Each of the blister cards13, 15, 17 may be loaded, verified and unloaded with a single system 10.It is to be understood that blister cards 13, 15, 17 are merely examplesand that many different types of blister cards and compartmentalizedcontainers exist and can be used with a single system 10.

Blister cards 13, 15, 17 are of a type which may be utilized by a retailpharmacy, a hospital pharmacy, a long-term care facility pharmacy,and/or a mail-order pharmacy to fulfill prescription orders for patientsor other customers. As illustrated, blister cards 13, 15, 17 areportable compartmentalized containers for managing and organizingmedicaments 11. In the examples, blister cards 13, 15, 17 may bedelivered to a patient as a closed and hermetically-sealed containerincluding medicaments 11 as required to fulfill the patient'sprescription order. The organization of blister cards 13, 15 and 17 maybe provided so as to encourage compliance with the prescription order asprescribed by the patient's physician.

The structure of exemplary blister cards 13, 15, 17 will now bedescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 1A-3C. For simplicity and brevity,like reference numbers of like components of blister cards 13, 15, 17are used throughout the drawings. Each exemplary blister card 13, 15, 17may include a body 27, a top and a bottom 31, 33, a front and a rearside 35, 37 and a left and a right side 39, 41. In the examples ofrectangular body 27 styles of blister cards 13, 15, 17, front and rearsides 35, 37 define a length dimension “L” therebetween and left andright sides 39, 41 define a width dimension “W” therebetween. Eachblister card 13, 15, 17 body 27 may further include cells orcompartments referred to herein as wells 43. Body 27 and wells 43 may bea unitary structure, for example, being of a plastic material. Forsimplicity and to avoid obscuring of the drawings, only selected wellsare indicated by reference number 43, it being understood that referencenumber 43 is indicative of each exemplary well and that wells 43 may beprovided in different quantities and with different shapes, sizes, andspacings between wells 43. As used herein, the terms cell(s),compartment(s), and well(s) may be used interchangeably.

Referring further to the exemplary blister packages 13, 15, 17, eachwell 43 may be defined by a wall 45. Each wall 45 may define a well 43upper opening 47, or inlet, and a well bottom 49. A depth dimension “D”of body 27 may be defined between the body bottom 33 and body top 31. Asshown in the examples, the well 43 openings 47 extend through, and areincluded in and along, the top 31 of body 27. In the embodiments,medicaments 11 may be hand-loaded into each well 43 through opening 47.

A closure 51 may be affixed to top 31 of body 27 to cover well openings47 and provide an integrated and sealed blister card 13, 15, 17. Closure51 may be of a thin paperboard, foil, or other material(s) capable ofclosing openings 47. Closure 51 may be joined to body 27 by any suitablemeans including adhesive(s), sonic bonding (i.e., plastic welding), andheat sealing. In embodiments, closure 51 may be of a unique tri-panelfolio type as described below in connection with FIGS. 38-41. Anexemplary sealing station and steps for closing blister packages 13, 15,17 with a tri-panel folio closure also are described in connection withFIGS. 38-41. Once closure 51 is applied, blister card 13, 15, 17provides a hermetically-sealed unit protecting medicaments 11 and/orother items therein from contact with the outside environment andproviding a convenient package with which to deliver the contents of theblister card 13, 15, 17 to the patient or other end user.

Body 27 may, for example, be made of material capable of having cells 43formed therein by processes such as thermoforming or cold-forming. Inembodiments, a preferred material for body 27 may be polyvinyl chloride(PVC) sheet. The PVC sheet may be between about 0.008 and about 0.012inches in thickness, as an example. PVC sheet is inexpensive and can bethermoformed to form wells 43. The material selected for body 27 may beselected so that wells 43 are collapsible by pushing with a humanfinger. Closure 51 may be breakable so that a medicament 11 within well43 can be pushed through closure 51 and out of blister card 13, 15, 17(i.e., a push-through pack) for use. In other embodiments, body 27 maybe of a relatively thicker plastic sheet material which does notcollapse, thus forming a rigid tray-like structure. In such analternative embodiment, closure 51 may be of a “peel-off” type to permitaccess to medicaments 11 or other items within wells 43. Instructionsand other information may be provided on closure 51 or associated withclosure 51, as will be described in more detail below.

Body 27 and wells 43 may be transparent, translucent, or otherwiselight-transmissive. Such light-transmissivity may permit the content(s)of each well 43 to be seen visually through each well 43 bottom 49and/or well 43 side 45 without removing closure 51 from blister card 13,15, 17. And, in such embodiments, any light provided beneath, proximate,adjacent to, or associated with, a well 43 or body 27 proximate to awell 43 may be seen through the material comprising body 27 and/or well43 side 45, and/or well bottom 49. In other embodiments, body 27, orparts of body 27 could be translucent or opaque as required, for examplefor ultra-violet light protection of medicaments 11 therein.

While the blister packages 13, 15, 17 of the examples share many of thesame parts and features, they may also differ in important ways. Forexample, blister packages 13, 15, 17 may differ with respect to body 27width W and length L dimensions and with respect to the number, shapeand size of the wells 43, potentially resulting in differences of body27 depth dimension D. Importantly and as a result of the foregoing typesof differences, blister packages 13, 15, 17 may differ significantlywith respect to spacing between cells 43 in the width W and length Ldimensions.

The foregoing important differences can be understood through a closerreview of the non-limiting examples of blister packages 13, 15, 17.Referring first to FIGS. 1A-1C, blister card 13 illustrated therein maybe of a weekly compliance package type intended to encourage the patientto take medicaments 11 at times of day such as breakfast, lunch, dinnerand bedtime. To accomplish this adherence objective, blister card 13 has28 wells 43 arranged in a pattern of rows 53 and columns 55 with fourrows 53 a-53 d and seven columns 55 a-55 g in this example. Each row 53a-53 d may correspond to the time of day the medicaments are to be taken(e.g., breakfast row 53 a, lunch row 53 b, dinner row 53 c and bedtimerow 53 d) and each column 55 a-55 g may correspond to the day of theweek on which the medicaments 11 are to be taken (e.g., Sunday column 55a through Saturday column 55 g). One or more medicament 11 may beprovided in each well 43 as prescribed by the physician. The patientmerely opens each well 43 in sequential order at the appropriate timeand day of the week to take the medicaments 11 in each well.

The wells 43 distributed along a single blister card body 27 may haveidentical structure or different structure as illustrated for example inFIGS. 1A and 1C. According to the example of blister card 13, wells 43of rows 53 a and 53 d may be volumetrically larger than wells 43 ofinterior rows 53 b and 53 c resulting from wells 43 in rows 53 a, 53 dhaving relatively larger width dimensions W. The larger well 43 sizes ofrows 53 a and 53 d may be provided in recognition that a greater numberof medicaments 11 are frequently taken at breakfast and bedtime.

Referring next to FIGS. 2A-2D, the blister card 15 illustrated thereinmay be provided with 31 wells to hold a one-month course of medicaments11, with each well 43 corresponding to a day of the month. Each well 43may contain one or more medicament 11 to be taken on the respective day.If a month has fewer than 31 days, then the unneeded well 43 may beunfilled with any medicament 11.

Blister card 15 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-D has the 31 wells 43 arrangedin a pattern of four rows 53 a-53 d with three rows 53 a-53 c havingeight columns 55 a-55 h and one row 53 d having seven columns 55. Thepatient merely opens each well 43 in sequential order on the appropriateday of the week to take the medicaments 11 in each well 43. It isapparent from a comparison of blister cards 13 and 15 that the number,arrangement and pattern of the 28 wells 43 (e.g., different spacingbetween wells 43 and different spacing between wells 43 and the sides35-41 in both the width W and length L dimensions) of blister card 13are quite different from the arrangement and pattern of the 31 wells 43of blister card 15.

Unlike blister card 13, each well 43 of blister card 15 has an identicalshape and a volumetrically identical size, as can be appreciated from avisual inspection. It is not required that each well 43 have the sameshape and size. Wells 43 have a generally rectangular shape in a planedefined by top 31 of blister card body 27.

Referring next to FIGS. 3A-3C, the blister card 17 illustrated thereinmay be used for any purpose, including as a compliance or adherencecontainer. Blister card 17 has 32 wells 43 arranged in a pattern of rows53 and columns with four rows 53 a-53 d and eight columns 55 a-55 h. Oneor more medicament 11 may be provided in each well 43 as prescribed bythe physician. The patient may open each well 43 as needed to take themedicaments 11 in the selected well 43.

The example of blister card 17 differs in structure from blister cards13 and 15. In the example of blister card 17, the 32 wells 43 have aD-shape in a plane defined by top 31 of blister card body 27. Also inthe example of blister card 17, the wells 43 of each row 53 a-53 d arespaced equidistantly and the wells 43 of each column 55 a-55 h arespaced equidistantly. As a result of this consistent and even spacing ofrows 53 and columns 55, wells 43 are generally evenly distributed acrossbody 27 of blister card 17. Overall, the arrangement and pattern of the32 wells 43 of blister card 17 is quite different from the arrangementand pattern of wells 43 of blister cards 13 and 15.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a wide variety of blister card wells 43 that canbe loaded, verified and/or unloaded by means of a single system 10. FIG.4A illustrates a variety of well 43 shapes in a plane defined by top 31of blister card body 27. The shapes may include D-shaped wells 43 a,oval and circular-shaped wells 43 b, 43 d, 43 e and rectangular wells 43c, 43 f. FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrate a variety of different well wall 45configurations including small 45 a, intermediate 45 b, 45 c and large45 d well walls and wells with rounded bottoms 49 a, 49 b or wells withflat bottoms 49 c, 49 d and frusto-conical walls 45 e, 45 f. Spacingbetween wells 43 of the types illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C in the width Wand length L dimensions on body 27 may be varied as desired. Nearlimitless arrangements of well-type compartments are possible and can beutilized with a single system 10.

It is apparent then from the examples of FIGS. 1A-4C that each ofblister cards 13, 15, 17 has a different number of wells 43 and that thewells have different shapes and sizes. The wells 43 of each blister card13, 15, 17 are arranged in a different pattern with different spacing ofthe wells 43 in the width W, length L and depth D dimensions. It isfurther apparent that the wells 43 of the three exemplary blister cards13, 15, 17 are not in vertical alignment with one another if the blistercards 13, 15, 17 were to be stacked one on top of the other.

To fulfill a full range of potential prescription orders, it may benecessary for a pharmacy to utilize all three of blister cards 13, 15,17, as well as blister cards or other types of compartmentalizedpackages with arrangements and patterns of wells or other compartmentswholly different from those of blister cards 13, 15, 17. Instructionsunique to each type of blister card 13, 15, 17, or othercompartmentalized container, would be necessary in order for pharmacypersonnel to hand-load all of these different blister cards. System 10provides a means to overcome the complexity caused by the diversity ofcompartmentalized containers which are available or potentiallyavailable.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-25, embodiments of a system 10 capable ofproviding visible information in positions which may be changed toenable use of system 10 with many different types of blister cards 13,15, 17 and other compartmentalized containers will next be described.According to the examples, visible information locations 63 on thedisplay are operable in a plurality of different arrangements andpatterns to provide visible information 65 which can be seen by a humanuser proximate a well 43 of interest. The visible information 65 may beused for hand-loading of a well 43, for verification of the content(s)of a well 43, for hand-unloading of the content(s) of a well 43 or foranother desired purpose. System 10 illustrated in FIGS. 5-25 facilitatesaccurate and rapid loading, verification, unloading, record keeping andother actions in connection with different types of compartmentalizedcontainers of which blister packages 13, 15, 17 are examples.

Advantageously, system 10 may be capable of being configured so that thepositions of the visible information locations 63 on the docking station19 may be changed so that the visible information 65 provided by thevisible information locations 63 will match the number and the uniqueand different arrangement and pattern of the wells 43 of the particularblister card 13, 15, 17 docked at docking station 19. In other words,visible information locations 63 may be operable in more than onearrangement and pattern. The ability to change the location of thevisible information locations 63 enables system 10 to position thevisible information 65 proximate each well 43 of interest, so that thevisible information 65 is associated with the required well 43,irrespective of the different structure of the blister card 13, 15, 17being processed with system 10.

As a result of being able to change the positions of the visibleinformation locations 63, a single system 10 may operate with manydifferent types of blister cards 13, 15, 17 or compartmentalizedcontainers. It would not be possible for a single system 10 toaccommodate more than one type of blister package 13, 15, 17 orcompartmentalized container if the locations of the visible informationlocations 63 were fixed. In healthcare settings, such as at a retailpharmacy, a hospital pharmacy, a long-term care facility pharmacy, or amail-order pharmacy, this capability of system 10 to meet the entiretyof a pharmacy's need for loading of different blister cards 13, 15, 17or compartmentalized containers provides a meaningful opportunity toreduce healthcare costs and to improve the quality of patient care.

System 10 of the examples may be thought of as a type of configurablepick-to-light/place-to-light system. Visible information 65 configurableto match the number and the arrangement and pattern of the wells 43instructs a user of system 10 with respect to which well 43 to load,verify, unload, or perform some other task, freeing the user from anynecessity to use written instructions.

Turning then to FIGS. 5-14 and 17-21B, an exemplary docking station 19which may be used with system 10 will now be described. In the examples,docking station 19 provides the visible information locations 63 and thevisible information 65. Docking station 19 provides a place at which ablister card 13, 15, 17 may be temporarily located for loading. In theembodiments, no electrical connection is provided or required between ablister card 13, 15, 17 and the docking station 19. However, thelocation of each blister card 13, 15, 17 well 43 at docking station 19must be known to controller 21 in order for docking station 19 toprovide visible information 65 proximate to, or associated with, thewell 43 to be loaded, verified, unloaded, or otherwise acted on.

Docking station 19 may include a housing 67 defined by top and bottomsides 69, 71, front and rear sides 73, 75 and left and right sides 77,79. Top side 69 may be planar, but is not required to be planar. Topside 69 may have a generally rectangular appearance having an areadefined by length L and width W dimensions in the plane defined by topside 69.

In embodiments, docking station 19 may comprise a display device 81 andhousing 67 may enclose the components of display device 81. Displaydevice 81 may be of a type which displays video and/or other graphicinformation (i.e., visible information 65) visible by a human user. Adisplay device 81 of the types exemplified herein may be referred to asa “video display.” For docking station 19 to accommodate different typesof blister packages 13, 15, 17 or other types of compartmentalizedcontainers, display device 81 should be of a type that may change thepositions of the visible information locations 63 provided by displaydevice 81 so as to match the number and the arrangement and pattern ofwells 43 or other compartments. A video display is a type of displaydevice 81 capable of outputting video and/or graphics information indifferent arrangements and patterns so as to position the visibleinformation 65 proximate that is, associated with, the wells 43 ofblister cards 13, 15, 17 having different structure and spacing fromeach other and from sides 35-41 of blister card body 27.

The video and/or graphics information output by display device 81 may begenerated by controller 21 through, for example, a video card (notshown) of controller 21 to which display device 81 may be connected viaan appropriate cable or wireless communication link 223 (FIG. 25).Display device 81 may include a screen 83 which outputs informationvisible to a user. Screen 83 may be a flat screen. A transparent covermay overlie or be integrated with screen 83 to protect screen 83 fromdamage. In the examples, visible information 65 provided by screen 83 ofdisplay device 81 may be seen through well 43 sides 45 and bottom 49 ofa blister card 13, 15, 17 overlying screen 83 to indicate to the userwhich well 43 is to be loaded, verified, unloaded, or otherwise actedupon. Non-limiting examples of display devices 81 which may beimplemented may include flat-panel displays such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a light emitting diode display (LED), an organic lightemitting diode display (OLED) or a plasma display.

By way of a non-limiting example, display device 81 may be a 27-inchdiagonal thin film transistor color LCD monitor. Display device 81 mayhave dimensions of 25.52 inches (L)×15.23 inches (W)×2.48 inches (D).Screen 83 may have a display area of 20.92 inches (L)×11.77 inches (W)and a display resolution of 1920×1080. A non-limiting example of asuitable display device 81 is a model ZBVM-27 Series LCD Monitoravailable from TRU-Vu Monitors, Inc. of Arlington Heights, Ill.

While display device 81 may typically be a flat-panel video display suchas those described above, it should be understood that other types ofdisplay devices may be utilized. Therefore, as used herein, the term“video display” means or refers to computer-controlled monitors andflat-panel display devices 81 of the types described above and, moregenerally, to devices for the visual presentation of data which includean array of visible light sources in which each light source of thearray is addressable such that the locations of the visible information63 provided by the light sources can be changed to match the number,arrangement and pattern of the wells 43 of, for example, different typesof blister packages 13, 15, 17 or other types of compartmentalizedcontainers. This capability of display device 81 of the presentinvention to change the visible information locations 63 as required tomatch the arrangement and pattern of the wells 43 differs from and isunlike devices in which the positions of the lights are static andunchangeable and therefore restrict or limit the types of blister cards13, 15, 17 and compartmentalized containers that can be used to onesthat have well 43 or compartment arrangements and patterns matching thestatic positions of the lights. An example of such a suitablealternative video display could include a purpose-built or custom LEDarray.

Display device 81 may be considered to be a type of output devicebecause visible information 65 may be displayed to a human user byscreen 83. In certain embodiments, screen 83 of display device 81 may bea touchscreen and therefore display device 81 may comprise an input andoutput device.

Referring to FIGS. 5-13B and 17-21B, bezel 85 may removably overliedisplay device 81 top side 69 surrounding screen 83. If provided, bezel85 may comprise part of container locator 23 structure to locate wells43 of blister cards 13, 15, 17 at known positions over screen 83 asdescribed herein. Bezel 85 may have a downwardly-oriented sidewall 87around some or all of the bezel 85 periphery which provides aninterference fit with some, or all, of front, rear, left and right sides73-79 sufficient to keep bezel 85 in a repeatable single position atopdisplay device 81. Bezel 85 may include position indicators 89, whichare illustrated as Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 in the example,representative of four different positions for loading of blister cards(e.g., blister cards 13, 15, 17) as described herein. A locating notch91 illustrated as a partial circle may be provided in bezel 85 to assistwith locating blister cards 13, 15, 17 at known positions also asdescribed herein. Bezel 85 may be removable as mentioned, or may befixed to display device 81.

Referring to FIGS. 9-13, 19-21B and 25, display device 81 may beactivated by controller 21 to provide visible information locations 63anywhere on screen 83 enabling display device 81 to provide visibleinformation proximate each well 43 or other compartment of manydifferent types of blister cards 13, 15, 17 or other compartmentalizedcontainers. No fixed positions of visible information locations 63 onscreen 83 are required. The visible information locations 63 may be of anumber, size, arrangement and/or spacing as needed to match wells 43 orother compartments.

Display device 81 may include a screen 83 with an array comprised ofpicture elements, or pixels 92 (certain pixels 92 of screen 83 areillustrated schematically in FIG. 25) arranged in width W and length Ldimensions across screen 83 where each pixel 92 represents the smallestcontrollable element of an image or graphic represented on screen 83.Pixels 92 may be considered to be selectively operable because they maybe activated and, alternatively, de-activated. Each pixel 92 mayrepresent a number of different shades or colors, depending on how muchstorage space is allocated for it. Each pixel 92 may have an addresswhich corresponds to the physical coordinates of the pixel 92 on thescreen 83. As mentioned and in certain embodiments, the pixels 92 may bearranged in a display resolution of 1920×1080, but such a resolution isnot required as higher or lower resolutions may be implemented. In theexamples, pixels 92 output light energy communicating visibleinformation 65. In such a display device 81, any of the pixels 92 andgroups of the pixels 92 may be identified by their unique addresses andoperated to provide visible information locations 63 as needed to matchthe arrangement and pattern of the wells 43 of a blister card 13, 15, 17or compartments of another compartmentalized container. In embodiments,activation of the pixels 92 of screen 83 may provide the visibleinformation 65. In other embodiments, de-activation of the pixels 92 ofscreen 83 may provide the visible information 65.

FIGS. 9-13B and 19-21B illustrate examples of visible informationlocations 63 of display device 81 and how the visible informationlocations 63 may be changed to match the arrangement and patterns ofwells 43 of different types of blister cards, such as blister cards 13,15, 17. Referring first to FIG. 9, display device 81 is in an inactivestate with no visible information locations 63 active on screen 83. Novisible information 65 is discernable on screen 83. Pixels 92corresponding to the needed visible information sources 63 are inactiveto provide visible information 65

Referring next to FIGS. 10-13B and 19-21B, it may be seen that a singlesystem 10 and docking station 19 enables different visible informationlocations 63 to be activated to provide different arrangements andpatterns of the visible information 65. Referring first to FIGS. 10-13Aand 19-21A, these figures illustrate display device 81 with a firstarrangement and pattern of visible information locations 63 (28 and 32visible information locations 63 respectively) and output of visibleinformation 65 from those visible information locations 63. In use, sucha first arrangement and pattern of visible information 65 may be used todirect a user to hand load a first type of medicament 11 a into theindicated subset of wells 43 of a single blister package 13 or 17 inthese examples.

Referring next to FIGS. 13B and 21B, these figures illustrate displaydevice 81 with the same arrangement and pattern of visible informationlocations 63 (again, 28 and 32 visible information locations 63respectively) but with different ones of the visible informationlocations 63 providing an output of visible information 65 providinginformation to a user which differs from that of FIGS. 10-13B and19-21B. In use, such a second arrangement and pattern of visibleinformation 65 output from activated visible information locations 63may be used to direct the user to load a second type of medicament 11 binto a subset of wells 43 different from the subset of wells 43 whichwould be indicated by the visible information 65 of FIGS. 10-13B and19-21B.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 10-13B, docking station 19 displaydevice 81 is illustrated with groups 93 of visible information locations63 indicated as 93 a-93 d. In the example, groups or regions of pixels92 of screen 83 provide each of the visible information locations 63.Each group 93 a-93 b of visible information locations 63 includes 28visible information locations 63 arranged in a pattern of rows andcolumns 95, 97 with four rows 95 a-95 d and seven columns 97 a-97 g.Each of the 28 visible information locations 63 in each group 93 a-93 dof visible information locations 63 is arranged (i.e., spaced in width Wand length L dimensions) in a pattern that matches the arrangement andpattern of the 28 wells 43 of a blister card 13 such as is illustratedin FIGS. 1A-1C.

Referring again to FIGS. 10-13B, the visible information 63 output byvisible information locations 63 may be of a solid-type 65 a and abordered-type 65 b. The solid-type 65 a information is shown as a solidcolor (e.g., green) but may be of any type, such as a combination ofcolors, a pattern, etc. The bordered-type 65 b information is shown as asolid color border (e.g., green) surrounding an inactive region ofscreen 83 but may be of any type, such as a combination of colors, apattern, or even nothing.

Each type of solid-type 65 a and bordered-type 65 b visible informationmay provide a different type of information to the technician,pharmacist or other user. In the illustrated embodiment, the solid-typevisible information 65 a may indicate that a first type of medicament 11a should be placed by hand in a well 43 of a blister card 13 overlyingthe visible information locations 63. The solid-type 65 a informationmay indicate a “yes” state to prompt the user to load, verify, unloadedor perform some other task for the indicated well 43. In contrast, thebordered-type visible information 65 b may indicate that the well 43proximate the bordered-type visible information 65 b requires noloading, verifying or unloading. The bordered-type 65 b information mayindicate a “no” state of the well 43 proximate the bordered-type visibleinformation 65 b prompting the user to take no action with respect tothe well 43 proximate the bordered-type visible information 65 b inthese examples.

In the example of FIGS. 10-13B, each visible information location 63 maybe directly beneath each well 43 and each well 43 may overlie thevisible information location 63 and visible information 65 when theblister card 13 is docked at docking station 19. Visible information 65may be viewable through well 43 bottom 49 and wall 45. Each visibleinformation location 63 is not required to be directly beneath each well43 and may be at other locations which provide visible information 65proximate to, or associated with, the well 43 which is to be loaded,verified, unloaded or otherwise acted on. For example, the visibleinformation 65 could pass through a region of body 27 bottom 33 and top31 sides next to each well 43, rather than through the well 43 bottom 49and well wall 45 as illustrated to provide the needed visible prompt tothe user indicating the well 43 of interest.

In the example of FIG. 13B, visible information locations 63 provide apattern and arrangement of visible information 65 which differs fromthat of FIGS. 10-13A. As is apparent, different ones of the 28 visibleinformation locations 63 are active to provide solid-type and borderedtype visible information 65 a, 65 b, indicating by the solid-typevisible information 65 a, for example, the wells 43 into which a secondtype of medicament 11 b is to be placed by hand.

In the examples of FIGS. 10-13B, the area of the visible information 65provided by the visible information locations 63 is optionally greaterfor the outer two rows 95 a, 95 d than for the inner two rows 95 b, 95c. In examples including a video display device 81, this may beaccomplished by activation of the desired pixels 92 of screen 83. Thisarea size difference is reflective of the larger size of the two outerrows 53 a, 53 d of blister card 13 wells 43 as compared with the innertwo rows 53 b, 53 c of blister card 13 wells 43. This difference in areafor the outer two rows 95 a, 95 d than for the inner two rows 95 b, 95 cis illustrative that in embodiments of system 10, the visibleinformation locations 63 may be activated to provide visible information65 of any shape, size, appearance, or location on screen 83 needed toindicate the well(s) 43 into which a medicament 11 is to be hand-loaded,verified or unloaded.

Referring next to the examples of FIGS. 19-21B, docking station 19display device 81 is illustrated with two groups 93 of visibleinformation locations 63 indicated as 93 a-93 b. Each group 93 a-93 b ofvisible information locations 63 includes 32 visible informationlocations 63 arranged in a pattern of four rows 95 a-95 d and eightcolumns 97 a-97 h identified consistently with rows 53 and columns 55 ofblister card 15 in this example. Each of the 32 visible informationlocations 63 in each group 93 a-93 b of visible information locations 63is arranged (i.e., spaced in width W and length L dimensions) in apattern that matches the arrangement and pattern of the 32 wells 43 of ablister card 17 such as is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C.

In the example of FIGS. 19-21B, each visible information location 63 mayagain be directly beneath each well 43 with each well 43 optionallyoverlying the visible information location 63 and visible information65. The visible information locations 63 and visible information 65 neednot be directly beneath each well 43 of a docked blister card 17 butshould be sufficiently proximate each well 43 such that the userunderstands and is instructed with respect to the well 43 which is to beacted on.

In the example of FIGS. 19-21A, the solid-type 65 a visible information65 provided by the visible information locations 63 may serve as aprompt to a user indicating that a first type of medicament 11 c is tobe placed by hand into a well 43 of a blister card 17 overlying orproximate to the visible information locations 63 (a “yes” state)whereas the framed visible information 65 b may serve as a prompt toindicate to a user that a medicament 11 should not be placed in a well43 of a blister card 17 overlying or proximate to the visibleinformation locations 63 (a “no” state). In the example of FIG. 21B, thesolid-type visible information 65 a provided by visible informationlocations 63 different from those of FIGS. 19-21A may indicate wells 43of blister card 17 into which a second type of medicament 11 d should beplaced by hand.

As illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 19-21B, the area of each visibleinformation 65 element provided by the visible information locations 63may be identical. The identically-shaped visible information 65 of FIGS.19-21B therefore differs in size, shape, spacing from adjacent visibleinformation 65 and overall orientation from the visible information 65of FIGS. 10-13B which is not identical. This difference in visibleinformation 65 may be accomplished by activation of the desired groupsor regions of pixels 92 of screen 83 corresponding to the desiredvisible information locations 63, thereby illustrating once again thecapability of a single system 10 to function with many different typesof blister cards (e.g., blister cards 13, 15, 17).

The visible information 65 output by visible information locations 63illustrated in FIGS. 10-13B and 19-21B represents examples only. Thesize, shape, appearance, orientation, location, color, opaqueness,borders, absence of borders, and any other characteristics of thevisible information 65 presented on display device 81 may be customizedand presented as desired by the user of system 10.

The visible information 65 need not be constant and could, for example,provide alternating on/off visible information or, in other words,provide blinking visible information 65. For example, controller 21 maycontrol display device 81 and visible information locations 63 to have ablinking pattern indicating the quantity of medicaments 11 to be loadedinto the associated well 43. A single blink could, for example, indicatethat one medicament 11 is to be loaded, verified, or unloaded from theindicated well 43, two blinks may indicate that more than one medicament11 is to be loaded in that well and three blinks may indicate that ahalf-size medicament is to be loaded in that well 43.

Visible information 65 in the form of light information has beendescribed above. In embodiments, visible information may comprise imageinformation, separately or in combination with light information. Forexample, visible information 65 may include an image information such asan Arabic number (e.g., 1, 2, 3 etc.) provided by visible informationlocations 63 to indicate the quantity of medicaments 11 that should bein each well 43 for loading, verification, unloading, or some othertask. Visible information 65 may also include an image of the physicalappearance of the medicament that should be loaded into each well 43.Video displays 81 of the types described herein may be capable ofgenerating these and other types of image information that could be usedas a visible cue or prompt to assist the user with loading, verifying orotherwise acting on a well of interest.

The relationship between the visible information 65 and blister cards13, 15, 17 is described in more detail below.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 6-24 to describe exemplary containerlocator 23 structure which may be associated with display device 81. Inthe embodiments, for system 10 to provide visible information 65 to theuser with respect to how to load, verify, and/or unload a blister card13, 15, 17, or do other work, system 10 must have a record of thelocation of each well 43 and the action to be taken with respect to eachwell 43. Each well 43 must be positioned at a known location withrespect to docking station 19 so that such actions can occur.

In the examples, a container locator 23 may be associated with thedisplay device 81. Container locator 23 may comprise bezel 85,interchangeable portable fixtures 99, 101 and interchangeable portableblister card trays 103, 105 (also referred to herein as a “tray” or asthe plural “trays”). Each fixture 99, 101 outer edge 119 may cooperatewith bezel 85 inner edge 121 to locate fixture 99, 101 and trays 103,105 at repeatable positions over screen 83. Blister card trays 103, 105supported by an appropriate portable fixture 99 or 101 may be used tolocate a blister card 13, 15, 17 and their wells 43 at known positionswith respect to visible information locations 63 and visible information65 of docking station 19.

Each fixture 99, 101 may itself be a type of tray. Examples of fixtures99, 101 may be thought of as a “main” or “primary” tray and blister cardtrays 103, 105 may be thought of as “secondary” trays indicative that afixture 99, 101 may position one or more tray 103, 105 at a knownposition of display device 81. It is to be understood that the term“tray” herein is not intended to impose any particular structure on thefixtures 99, 101 or trays 103, 105. In the examples, tray merely refersto structure which may be capable of positioning, carrying and/orholding. It is to be further understood that bezel 85, fixtures 99, 101and trays 103, 105 of container locator 23 are examples and that othertypes of positioning structure capable of locating blister cards 13, 15,17 and other types of compartmentalized containers with wells 43 orother compartments at known positions of docking station 19 may beimplemented.

Fixtures 99, 101 may be interchangeable on docking station 19 andblister card trays 103, 105 may fit interchangeably into a respectivefixture 99, 101. In the examples, fixtures 99, 101 position respectiveblister card trays 103 or 105 in overlying relationship with displaydevice 81. In the examples, visible information 65 provided by visibleinformation locations 63 may be viewable by a human user throughfixtures 99, 101, blister card trays 103, 105 and wells 43 of a blistercard (e.g., blister cards 13, 15, 17) resting on a blister card tray103, 105.

Fixtures 99, 101 and corresponding blister card trays 103, 105 locateeach blister card (e.g., blister card 13, 15, 17) proximate dockingstation 19 screen 83 such that each blister card (e.g., blister card 13,15, 17) may be recognized by system 10 and every well 43 is at a knownposition proximate visible information locations 63. With blister cards(e.g., blister card 13, 15, 17) and wells 43 at known positions, system10 may provide instructions in the form of visible information 65 to thetechnician, pharmacist or other user for purposes of hand-loading amedicament 11 into a well 43, for verification of the content(s) of oneor more well 43, for removal of medicaments 11 from one or more well 43,and/or for other work.

In the examples, each fixture 99, 101 of container locator 23 may haveessentially identical structure, or modularity. Each fixture outer edge119 may have the same width and length dimensions to cooperate withinner edge 121 of a single bezel 85 to hold each fixture 99, 101 at asingle position atop display device 81 of docking station 19.

However, each fixture 99, 101 may differ from another fixture withrespect to the number and location of the blister card tray(s) 103, 105and blister cards (e.g., blister cards 13, 15, 17) supported by eachfixture 99, 101. By way of example, fixture 99 is a 4-position fixturewhich holds four blister card trays 103 of a 28-well type. By way offurther example, fixture 101 is a 2-position fixture which holds twoblister card trays 105 of a 32-well 43 type. Such tray 103, 105embodiments and their exemplary relationship with fixtures 99, 101 aredescribed in more detail below.

Referring then to FIGS. 8, 14, 18 and 22 and the exemplary fixtures 99,101 illustrated therein, fixtures 99, 101 may have top and bottom sides107, 109, front and rear sides 111, 113 and left and right sides 115,117. Fixtures 99, 101 may have an area defined by a length dimension Lbetween sides 115-117 and a width dimension W between sides 111-113 suchthat fixture 99, 101 approximates an area of display device 81 and mayoverlie docking station 19 with blister card trays 103, 105 over screen83 at a known position. Each fixture 99, 101 is preferably identicalwith respect to its length, width, and area dimensions so that onefixture 99, 101 may be interchanged with any other fixture 99, 101 ofsystem 10. As mentioned, bezel 85 may include human-readable positionindicators 89 (e.g., arabic numbers 1, 2, 3, 4) to indicate each of fourpotential positions for loading of blister cards 13, 15, 17 in theexamples. Systems other than system 10 may include any number of loadingpositions at which a docked tray 103, 105 and blister card 13, 15, 17 islocated for loading, verification, unloading or another task.

To facilitate interchange of one fixture with another, each fixture 99,101 may have an outer edge 119 defined by sides 111, 113, 115, 117 whichclosely approximates an inner edge 121 of bezel 85 surrounding display83. Each fixture 99, 101 has the same outer edge 119 dimension and isinterchangeable with any other fixture 99, 101 bordered by bezel inneredge 121. An interference fit between edges 119, 121 locates eachfixture 99, 101 at a single repeatable position over display device 81screen 83. Structure other than edge-to-edge contact between edges 119,121 may be used to locate fixture over display device 81. As an example,locator pins (not shown) on fixture 99, 101 may be used to interact withbezel inner edge 121 as an example.

Each fixture 99, 101 may further include a projection 123 extending outfrom fixture side 115 keyed to mate with notch 91. Contact betweenprojection 123 and notch 87 forces fixture 99, 101 to be located ondocking station 19 over display device 81 in just a single orientation.Contact between edge 119 of fixture 99, 101 and inner edge 121 of bezel85 and between projection 123 and notch 91 easily allows fixture 99, 101to be removably placed onto docking station 19 over display device 81 injust a single repeatable position. The single and repeatable position offixture 99, 101 over display device 81, in turn, enables system 10 toidentify the location of each well 43 as described herein.

To improve portability of each fixture 99, 101, a pair of grippinghandles, each numbered 125, may be provided on fixture 99, 101 alongrespective left and right sides 115, 117. Handles 125 may be providedfor gripping by a human hand when placing a fixture 99, 101 on bezel 85of display device 81, when carrying fixtures 99, 101, when storingfixtures 99, 101, or otherwise working with fixtures 99, 101.

Each fixture 99, 101 may be of a lightweight, but rigid, materialenabling a human to easily manipulate or carry one or more of thefixtures 99, 101. Plastic materials, such as nylon or acetal, arerepresentative materials that may be implemented for fixtures 99, 101.

Each fixture 99, 101 may include stacking structure to facilitatestorage of fixtures 99, 101, and, more specifically stacking of fixtures99, 101. As is known, workspace and storage space within a pharmacy orother facility is valuable. It may be desirable to utilize such space asefficiently as possible by storing blister packages 13, 15, 17 andmedicaments 11 or other items therein as densely as possible.

To facilitate stacking, each fixture 99, 101 may be identical withrespect to its length, width, and area dimensions as previouslydescribed, thereby allowing one fixture 99 and/or 101 to be neatlystacked atop another fixture 99 and/or 101.

To further facilitate stacking, each fixture 99, 101 may further includestacking structure in the form of a plurality of upwardly-projectingposts, each numbered 127, which may project up from fixture 99, 101 topside 107. Each post 127 may optionally fit within a separate alignedfemale opening (hidden in FIGS. 14 and 22) or other cooperatingstructure in or on bottom side 109 of each fixture 99, 101 which mayalign with a respective post 127 providing a friction fit whichseparably holds adjacent fixtures 99, 101 laterally and verticallytogether for purposes of stacking, storage, carrying, or other work.

In other embodiments, stacking structure could comprise posts (notshown) projecting down from a fixture 99, 101 bottom side 109. Otherstacking structure could be utilized. Stacking is described in furtherdetail below.

Each fixture 99, 101 may include one or more tray-locating position,each numbered 131, which receives and holds a blister card tray such asa tray 103 and/or 105. Such trays 103, 105 may have different shapes andconfigurations and a respective fixture 99, 101 tray-locating position131 may be tailored accordingly. Preferably, the trays such as trays103, 105, are modular so that numerous different trays 103 or 105 of anidentical structure may be used interchangeably with a single fixture99, 101. For example, a single fixture 99, 101 may be tailored to holdjust one identical type of tray (e.g., tray 103 or tray 105), differenttypes of trays (e.g., tray 103 and tray 105), or trays that are unliketrays 103, 105. By way of further example, a single fixture 99, 101 maybe tailored to hold just one tray, or more than one tray (e.g., tray 103or tray 105). A fixture 99, 101 with plural positions 131 may hold fewertrays (e.g., tray 103, 105) than the available positions 131 duringloading, verification, unloading, or other operation of system 10.

In the examples, each tray-locating position 131 may include structurewhich requires that each tray 103, 105 is in a single repeatableposition within each tray-locating position 131 of fixture 99, 101. Suchstructure may include left and right sidewalls 133, 135, front and rearwalls 137, 139 and a pair of opposed bottom ledges 141, 143 which may betoward bottom of walls 137, 139. The opening in fixture 99, 101 definedby walls 133-139 is preferably selected to form a close fit with a tray103 or 105 which is sized to fit closely within tray-locating position131. Also in the examples, a sidewall such as right sidewall 135 mayinclude a notch 145. Trays 103, 105 may include a projection 147 keyedto be received in notch 145. Trays 103, 105 cannot be received intray-locating position 131 unless projection 147 is fully within notch145. A technician, pharmacist or other person would be immediatelyprompted to turn tray 103, 105 until projection 147 is placed withinnotch 145, thereby enabling tray 103, 105 to be received fully into arespective tray-locating position 131. The single and repeatableposition of tray 103, 105 within tray-locating position 131 enablessystem 10 to identify the location of each well 43 as described herein.

Referring next to FIGS. 5-13B, 15-21B and 23-24, portable blister cardtrays 103, 105 comprising elements of container locator 23 will bedescribed in further detail. Trays 103, 105 may be desirable to supportand hold containers such as blister cards 13, 15, 17 which may be of aflexible material, thereby providing an element of rigidity to theblister card 13, 15, 17 supported on the tray 103, 105. In embodiments,wherein containers are more rigid, a tray 103, 105 could be replaced bythe container itself. In such embodiments, container locator 23 couldinclude bezel 85, a fixture 99, 101 and the rigid container substitutedfor tray 103, 105.

Referring back to the examples of FIGS. 5-13B, 15-21B and 23-24, eachtray 103, 105 may have lateral sides 149, 151, 153, 155, a top side 157and a bottom side 159. Tray sides 149-155 may be sized to closely fitwithin walls 133-139 of a tray-locating position 131 of a fixture suchas fixture 99, 101. For further control, tray sides 149-153 and eachposition 131 may be constructed so that just one type of tray (e.g.,tray 103 or 105) fits within a given position 131. Such an arrangementwould prevent an incorrect tray 103, 105 from being inserted into aposition 131. Given that trays 103, 105 may be modular, this would allowmultiple trays 103, 105 to be used with a single fixture 99, 101 andpositioned in a repeatable position or positions on the fixture 99, 101.

Top side 157 may define a plurality of openings, each numbered 161 forconvenience. Referring to FIGS. 15-16, top side 157 of tray 103 mayinclude 28 openings 161 arranged in a pattern of rows 163 and columns165 with four rows 163 a-163 d and seven columns 165 a-165 g in thisexample. Each of the 28 openings 161 is arranged in a pattern (i.e.,spaced in width W and length L dimensions) that matches the arrangementand pattern of the 28 wells 43 of a blister card 13 such as isillustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C. Blister card 13 may rest on tray 103 witheach well 43 inserted through a respective opening 161. Tray 103 mayhave a depth dimension so that bottoms 49 of wells 43 of blister card 13are on or above screen 83 when tray 103 is docked at docking station 19.System 10 may then activate visible information locations 63 matchingthe arrangement and pattern of the openings 161 and wells 43 once system10 is operational.

Referring to FIGS. 23-24, top side 157 of tray 105 may include 32openings 161 arranged in a pattern of rows 163 and columns 165 with fourrows 163 a-163 d and eight columns 165 a-165 g in this example. Each ofthe 32 openings 161 may be arranged in a pattern (i.e., spaced in widthW and length L dimensions) that matches the arrangement and pattern ofthe 32 wells 43 of a blister card 17 such as is illustrated in FIGS.3A-3C. Blister card 17 may rest on tray 105 with each well 43 insertedthrough a respective opening 161. Tray 105 may have a depth dimension sothat bottoms 49 of wells 43 are on or above screen 83 when tray 105 isdocked at docking station 19. As with tray 103, system 10 may thenactivate visible information locations 63 matching the arrangement andpattern of the openings 161 and wells 43 of tray 105 once system 10 isoperational.

Tray sides 149-155 and top side 157 may define an interior space 167.The tray bottom side 159 may be sufficiently unobstructed to allowvisible information 65 to pass into tray 103, 105 and through interiorspace 167 and openings 161. Interior space 167 may be hollow which wouldenable passage of such visible information 65.

Trays 103, 105 may include a pair of handles 169 on opposite sides 153,155 of tray 103, 105. Handles 169 may be grasped by human hands to allowfor ease of handling of the trays both before and after loading withmedicaments 11 or other items.

Referring to FIG. 23, a cover 171 may be provided to cover blister cards13, 15, 17 after loading but before closure 51 is attached to blistercard body 27. Cover 171 may be transparent, translucent or otherwiselight-transmissive to allow a human to view the content(s) of eachblister card well 43. A cover 171 may be provided for each tray 103,105. The cover 171 is ideal if the loaded blister cards 13, 15, 17supported on trays 103, 105 are to be stored for a period of time beforeverification, unloading, application of closure 51 or some other task.For example, each tray 103, 105 may be stored separately. Alternatively,a fixture 99, 101 with loaded trays 103, 105 thereon may be stored as aunit. Cover 171 would protect the contents of each blister card 13, 15,17 until a closure 51 is applied.

In the examples, cover 171 may be configured to match the profile ofeach tray 103, 105 in a plane defined by tray top side 155. Clips, eachnumbered 173, may depend from protruding portions of cover 171 toprovide a friction fit with a respective tray handle 169 which removablyholds cover 171 on tray 103, 105.

Each tray 103, 105 may be of a lightweight but rigid material, enablinga human to easily manipulate or carry one or more of the trays 103, 105separately or when loaded on a fixture 99, 101. Plastic materials, suchas nylon or acetal, or lightweight metals such as cast aluminum arerepresentative materials that may be implemented for trays 103, 105.

Machine-readable identification elements 175-193 may be utilizedseparately, or in combination with human-readable information, tosimplify the workflow of system 10. Machine-readable identificationelements 175-193 may simplify the process of associating a fixture 99,101 with a docking station 19 and trays 103, 105 with positions 131 of afixture 99, 101. The foregoing associations ultimately locate wells 43of a blister card 13, 15, 17 at a known position over screen 83 so thatsystem 10 may activate the visible information locations 63 in thearrangement and pattern which matches the well 43 locations of a dockedtray 103, 105 and blister card 13, 15, 17 supported by the appropriatetray.

The machine-readable identification element 175-193 may be used bysystem 10 for other purposes including to validate that the correctfixture 99, 101 or tray 103, 105 has been selected for a particular taskor to provide an error signal if the incorrect fixture 99, 101 or trays103, 105 were selected. Machine-readable identification elements 175-193may be used to simplify record-keeping and controlling other aspects ofsystem 10 workflow.

Any suitable type of machine-readable identification element 175-193 maybe implemented. Examples of suitable machine-readable identificationelements 175-193 may include a linear barcode, a two-dimensional barcode(e.g, a QR code, a PDF417 code, etc.), and/or a radio frequencyidentification tag (RFID). An exemplary RFID tag may be re-writable orread-only, as desired. The location of machine-readable identificationelements 175-193 should be such that each embedded code may be read witha code reader 195 such as a suitable barcode reader or an RFIDinterrogator.

Turning then to interchangeable fixtures 99, 101 and as illustrated inFIGS. 6-8, 12-14 and 17-22, each fixture 99, 101 may include amachine-readable identification element 175, 177 with a unique codewhich identifies the fixture 99, 101. In the examples of FIGS. 6-8,12-14 and 17-22, a machine-readable identification element 175, 177 maybe located on a fixture 99, 101 anywhere such as on a handle 125 or on afront side 111. Such machine-readable identification element 175, 177may be read at any suitable time, including before or after fixture 99,101 is placed on docking station 19 and/or before or after medicaments11 or other items are loaded, verified and/or unloaded. Reading ofmachine-readable identification element 175, 177 may identify thefixture type (e.g., a four-position fixture 99, a two-position fixture101, etc.) and the type of tray 103, 105 which may be received at eachtray-locating position 131 of fixture 99, 101. A record of the fixture99, 101 associated with docking station 19 may be created by system 10and stored in database 197 associated with controller 21.

Turning to the tray-locating positions 131 of fixtures 99, 101 andreferring to FIGS. 8, 14, 18 and 22, a unique machine-readableidentification element 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189 may also be providedon fixture 99, 101 associated with each tray-locating position 131,thereby providing each such tray-locating position 131 with a uniqueaddress.

In the example of fixture 99, machine-readable identification element179 may uniquely identify tray-locating position 131 which may be at thetop left quadrant of fixture 99 and the machine-readable identificationelements 181, 183, 185 may respectively identify the remaining threequadrant positions 131 of fixture 99.

In the example of fixture 101, machine-readable identification element187 may uniquely identify a left side tray-locating position 131 offixture 101 while machine-readable identification element 189 mayuniquely identify a right-side tray-locating position 131 of fixture101.

Database 197 which may reside in computer 219 may include a record ofeach tray-locating position 131 of every fixture 99, 101 so that thefootprint bounded by every tray-locating position 131 is at a knownposition with respect to docking station 19 and screen 83 when fixture99, 101 is mounted on docking station 19. By way of non-limitingexample, database 197 may have a record that a tray-locating position inthe top left quadrant of fixture 99, e.g., position 1, has a length of 9inches, a width of 6 inches and covers an area of 54 square inches ofscreen 83 spaced 2 inches from the left edge of screen 83 and two inchesbelow the top edge of screen 83. Similar physical locations of eachtray-location position 131 of fixture 99 and of positions 131 of fixture101 may be in database 197.

Turning next to trays 103, 105 and as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, 13A-13B,15, 17-18, 20-21B, 23-24, a further machine-readable identificationelement 191, 193 may be on each tray 103, 105 so that each tray 103, 105may be provided with a unique identifier which may be in database 197and known to system 10. Machine-readable identification element 191, 193may be on tray 103, 105, for example on a handle 169 or on a tray side,such as side 149. Database 197 may include a record of the position ofeach opening 161 of each tray 103, 105 and the position of the screen 83under each opening 161 when the respective tray 103, 105 is docked in atray-locating position 131 of fixture 99 or 101 so that location of eachwell 43 seated in each opening 161 over screen 83 is at a position onscreen 83 known to system 10.

As described in more detail below, successive reading of amachine-readable identification element 175, 177 may associate a fixture(e.g., fixture 99 or 101) with docking station 19. Then, reading of themachine-readable identification element 179-189 at one of thetray-locating positions 131 and reading a machine-readableidentification element 191 or 193 of a tray 103, associates that tray103 with the specific tray-receiving position 131 (e.g., the top leftquadrant of fixture 99, or position 1 of docking station 19). A recordof the associations may be stored in database 197. As a result of thesuccessive associations, system 10 has a record of the exact locationover screen 83 of each tray 103, 105, tray opening 161, and blister cardwell 43 for the purposes of loading each blister card 13, 15, 17.

In the examples, docking station 19 display device 81 is controlled suchthat the visible information 65 from each visible information location63 is aligned with each tray opening 161 when a tray (e.g., tray 103,105) is fully docked or seated in a tray-locating position 131. Thevisible information 65 may be viewable through each opening 161 andthrough the light-transmissive material comprising well 43 when ablister card (e.g., blister card 13, 15, 17) is resting on theappropriate tray (e.g., tray 103, 105).

Each visible information location 63 may be controlled so that visibleinformation 65 is always aligned with openings 161 irrespective of thenumber, arrangement and pattern of the openings 161 of the tray (e.g.,tray 103, 105) docked or seated in a respective tray-locating position131. Because the visible information locations 63 may be changed andactivated to provide visible information 65 in arrangements and patternswhich may differ as needed to align with openings 161 of different typesof trays 103, 105, visible information 65 may always provide “yes”and/or “no” state information to a technician, pharmacist or other user.This ability of system 10 to provide visible information 63 aligned withdifferent numbers, arrangements, and patterns of openings 161 and wells43 would not be possible if visible information locations 63 were fixedin a single arrangement and pattern.

The pick-to-light/place to light capability enables the user to rapidlyload the correct medicament 11 into the correct well 43, or to verifythat the correct medicament was loaded into the well 43, or to unload awell 43, or to perform some other task without the necessity forreliance on written instructions, for example instructions printed on apiece of paper. The user can quickly look into each well 43 and can seeboth the visible information 65 through the light-transmissive well 43and the medicament 11 in the well 43. The user can compare the physicalappearance of each medicament 11 in each indicated well 43 without thenecessity of reliance solely on written instructions. This process maybe facilitated by presentation of a reference image of the medicament 11as described below so that the user can quickly compare the appearanceof the medicament 11 and reference image in each indicated well 43associated with an activated visible information location 63.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, 14, 17-18 and 22, one aspect of fixtures 99, 101and blister card trays 103, 105 is that they provide a convenient andefficient means by which to organize, store and manage blister cards 13,15, 17 awaiting loading, verification, unloading, closure, or some othertask. Once a tray 103, 105 is associated with a fixture 99, 101, forexample by successive scanning of machine-readable identificationelements 175-193, the fixture 99, 101 may serve as a module or unit forworkflow purposes involving the trays 103, 105.

Following are examples of potential usage of trays 99, 101 to improveworkflow within a pharmacy. For example, a technician may use system 10to pre-load fixtures 99, 101 with trays 103, 105 and empty blister cards13, 15, 17. A record of the fixture 99, 101 and blister card trays 103,105 pre-loaded on the fixture 99, 101 could be created in a file in thedatabase 197 for each patient. The fixture 99, 101 could then be graspedby handles 125 and taken to temporary storage to await loading at asubsequent point in time. When a particular prescription order is to befulfilled, system 10 may identify the fixture 99, 101 to be taken fromstorage and docked at docking station so that the blister cards 13, 15,17 can be loaded in the required manner.

By way of further example, a fixture 99, 101 with trays 103, 105 andblister cards 13, 15, 17 already loaded using system 10 may be removedfrom docking station 19 to be verified at a future point in time. Arecord of the fixture 99, 101 and blister card trays 103, 105 loaded onthe fixture 99, 101 could be created in a file in the database 197 foreach patient. As with the pre-loading example above, the fixture 99, 101could then be grasped by handles 125 and taken to temporary storage toawait verification at a subsequent point in time. When a particularprescription order is to be verified, system 10 may identify the fixture99, 101 to be taken from storage and docked at docking station 19 sothat the blister cards 13, 15, 17 can be verified as containing thecorrect medicament 11.

As yet another example, a fixture 99, 101 with trays 103, 105 and loadedand verified blister cards 13, 15, 17 may be removed from dockingstation 19 to be closed with a closure 51 at a future point in time.

In all of these examples, a cover 171 may desirably be attached overeach blister card 13, 15, 17 and tray 103, 105 after loading whileawaiting further steps in the workflow. If cover 171 is transparent orotherwise light transmissive, cover 171 may remain on each tray 103, 105during verification using system 10. Cover 171 may be transparent toallow a user to look through cover 171 to see the content(s) of eachwell 43.

The unit or module represented by fixture 99, 101, trays 103, 105 andblister cards 13, 15, 17 may be easily carried and transported by ahuman and placed in a cabinet, on a shelf, or at any other desiredstorage location. Each fixture 99, 101 and its blister cards 13, 15, 17and contents may provide a sort of unit or module enabling the user toeasily perform all work on the blister cards 13, 15, 17 within themodule.

As described previously, fixtures 99, 101, with blister card trays 103,105 and loaded blister cards 13, 15, 17 thereon may be stackable toprovide for high-density storage. As mentioned, each fixture may have anidentical length L and width W dimension and overall structure,potentially differing only with respect to the number and type oftray-locating positions 131. Vertically-adjacent fixtures (e.g.,fixtures 99, 101) may be stacked by insertion of posts 127 of a lowerfixture 99 or 101 into female openings (hidden in FIGS. 14 and 22) ofthe upper fixture 99 or 101 aligned with posts 127 such that thefixtures 99, 101 and their blister cards 13, 15, 17 are stackedvertically one on top of the other. This arrangement makes storage ofmedicaments 11 in blister cards 13, 15, 17 as dense as possible.

At an appropriate date and time or stage in the workflow, the fixture99, 101, trays 103, 105, blister cards 13, 15, 17 may be retrieved fromstorage for performing the desired tasks. Therefore, fixtures 99, 101,and the modularity of such fixtures, provide a uniquely efficient mannerof loading, transporting, storing, and handling blister cards such asblister cards 13, 15, 17 and their contents.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6-13B and 17-19, docking station 19 may includea cradle 203 purposed to support housing 67. In embodiments comprising adisplay device 81, cradle 203 may contact bottom side 71 of housing 67to allow display device 81 to be set at an angle most suitable foreffective viewing of screen 83 and visible information 65 thereon by atechnician, pharmacist or other user. In the examples, cradle 203 mayinclude a pair of legs 205, 207 adjacent the rear side 75 of housing 67.Legs 205, 207 may be capable of up-and-down translating movement withina respective support member 209, 211 and held at a position with respectto support member 209, 211 by a set screw 213, 215. Legs 205, 207 mayterminate in a resilient foot 217, 218. Each foot 217, 218 enablesdocking station 19 to rest firmly at a workstation 26, such as acountertop surface 220 of a pharmacy.

Referring to FIG. 5 and the schematic block diagram of FIG. 25, there isshown an embodiment of a controller 21 which may be implemented withsystem 10. Controller 21 may include a client computer 219, which may bea type of processing device. Client computer 219 may be anyoff-the-shelf personal computer (PC). A Dell Optiplex 7040 MMF XCTOcomputer is an example. Client computer 219 may be operably connected toa data port 221 of display device 81 by means of a communication link223, which may be a suitable cable or wireless link. Client computer 219may include non-volatile memory 225 including a database 197 with aprogram of instructions 229 residing in memory 225. Client computer 219may be connected via a communication link 231 to a pharmacy informationsystem (PIS) 233 residing on a server 235. PIS 233 may pass eachprescription order to system 10 and client computer 219 after aprescription order is first approved by PIS 233. Computer 219 ofcontroller 21 need not be a stand alone device as illustrated in FIGS. 5and 25. For example, computer 219 could be a component of display 25.

Client computer 219 may provide overall control of system 10 including,without limitation, operation of docking station 19, display device 81and code reader 195 to fulfill any pending prescription order (i.e., aprescription order that has been approved for fulfillment) or othertask.

Instructions for loading, verifying, unloading, and performing othertasks for each blister card 13, 15, 17, including the type of medicament11 required in each well 43, may reside in a separate file residing indatabase 197 in memory 225 of client computer 219 of controller 21. Eachfile may contain all information necessary for loading, verifying,unloading, or performing any other task for each blister card 13, 15,17. The information may include the patient name, physician name, fulldetails of the prescription order including medicament type, strengthand quantity, medicament lot number, date and time of day on whichmedicament 11 is to be taken and the sequence in which the medicamentsare to be taken, a reference image or link to a source of a referenceimage (e.g., First Databank, Inc.) of the physical appearance of therequired medicament 11, and any other pertinent information.

The information in each file may include the type of blister card 13,15, 17 to be used to package the medicaments 11 required to fulfill theprescription order. The blister card 13, 15, 17 designated should havethe quantity and arrangement and pattern of wells 43 necessary tofulfill the prescription order. The file may further includeinstructions regarding the exact medicament(s) 11 required to be in eachwell 43 of the blister card 13, 15, 17. Database 197 may includeinstructions with the arrangement and pattern of visible informationlocations 63 necessary to provide visible information 65 underlying(i.e., proximate) each well 43 of a docked or seated tray 103, 105 forthe designated blister card 13, 15, 17.

During system 10 operation, controller 21 may control display device 81to activate visible information locations 63 which align with openings161 associated with each well 43 when a tray 103, 105 is docked at atray-locating position 131 of fixture 99, 101 at docking station 19. Theentirety of screen 83, that is anywhere a pixel 92 is located, maycomprise a visible information locations 63. Selective operation ofscreen 83 to activate pixels 92 underlying each well 43 prompts thetechnician, pharmacist, or other user to load, verify, unload, or takeother action with respect to the indicated well 43 associated with theactivated visible information location 63 and visible information 65.

Each file may also be updated to create a record (i.e., an archive) ofthe work performed using system 10. The record may include a record ofeach medicament 11 in each well 43, a record that the medicament 11 ineach well 43 matches the required type and quantity as required by eachpatient prescription order, a record of any verification that themedicament(s) in each well are correct in accordance with theprescription order and a record of any other information pertinent tothe workflow.

It is to be understood that “file” is intended to be a broad term whichmeans or refers to one or more elements of data stored in memory whichmay be recalled by system 10. It is to be further understood thatmultiple memory locations may be utilized for storing the data elementsrelating to each file. Therefore, the term “file” as used herein isintended to refer generally to the data elements necessary for properloading and management of any given blister card 13, 15, 17.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 25, system 10 which may be at workstation 26may include video display 25 (preferably a touchscreen video display),keyboard 236 and mouse 237. A touch screen video display 25, keyboard236 and mouse 237 are types of user input devices which permit atechnician, pharmacist, or other user to input information to clientcomputer 219 of controller 21 or PIS 193. A biometric identificationdevice 239 (FIG. 25) may be provided to permit the technician,pharmacist, or other user to be identified to system 10, particularlywhen logging on to the system or when performing some other operationwith system 10. The biometric device 239 may be a fingerprint reader,retina scanner, or other suitable device. Keyboard 236, mouse 237 andbiometric device 239 may be located in a pull-out drawer 238 forworkstation 26 organization purposes. Other drawers of workstation 26shown in FIG. 5 may be for storing supplies such as blister cards 13,15, 17, closures 51 or other things.

A code reader 195, such as a barcode reader or RFID interrogator may beoperably connected to computer 219 of controller 21 via a cableconnection, a wireless connection or any suitable connection. Codereader 195 may, for example, be any off-the-shelf device capable ofreading a machine-readable identification element (e.g., a barcode, anRFID tag) 175-193 on a fixture 99, 101, a tray-locating position 131, atray 103, 105 and/or a container 241 provided to hold medicaments 11.

Video display 25 may be a touchscreen display permitting a technician,pharmacist, or other user to input information to controller 21 bysimply touching her finger on a desired portion of the display 25. Videodisplay may be operably connected to computer 219 through a cable 240.Keyboard 236 may be an off-the-shelf QWERTY-type keyboard 236 permittinga user to input information to controller 21 and system 10. Atouchscreen video display 25, code reader 195, keyboard 236, mouse 237,and biometric device 239 are all types of input devices 23 which enablea user to input information to controller 21 and system 10.

A printer 243 may be provided for printing information on a closure 51as described below. Printer 243 may, for example, be any off-the-shelfprinter, such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer. Printer 243 maybe operably connected to computer 219 of controller 21 via a cableconnection, a wireless connection or any suitable connection.

FIG. 42 illustrates a further embodiment of a compartmentalizedcontainer loading system 1010. System 1010 may include a docking station1019, a controller 1021 and a tray locator 1023. In this example, system1010 may be used with a single tray, such as tray 103, 105 and may beused with a compartmentalized container such as blister card 13, 15, 17.For convenience and brevity, the description of trays 103, 105 andblister cards 13, 15, 17 is incorporated herein by reference.

According to the example of FIG. 42, docking station 1019 may comprise alow-profile, compact computer-controlled display device 1081, such as aflat-panel display or even a tablet-type device such as an Android orApple iOS tablet device. Display device 1081 may be a type of videodisplay. Display device 1081 may include a screen 1083 havingcontrollable pixel elements as described in connection with screen 83and pixels 92.

Controller 1021 may be located within housing 1067 and may have the samecapabilities as previously described in connection with controller 21and computer 219. Controller may be connected with any peripheraldevice, examples of which may be a video display such as display 25, aPIS such as PIS 235 and any other suitable device (e.g., a code reader195, a keyboard and mouse 236, 237, a biometric device 239, a printer243, etc.) by any suitable means such as by a cable and/or wirelessconnections.

Display device 1081 may have a screen 1083 which with an area sufficientto dock (i.e., receive) a single tray, such as tray 103. Tray 103 mayrest atop screen 1083 in the example. Controllable light producingelements, such as the previously-described pixels 92, at any location(s)of screen 1083 may comprise a visible information location 1063 whichmay be activated to provide visible information 1065 as was previouslydescribed in connection with visible information locations 63 andvisible information 65 of docking station 19 and the description ofvisible information locations and visible information 63, 65 isincorporated herein by reference for system 1010. Therefore, regions ofscreen 1083 of display device 1081 may be operated to provide visibleinformation 1065 matching the number and the arrangement and pattern ofwells 43 of any blister card 13, 15, 17.

In the example of FIG. 42, a tray locator 1023 may comprise bezel 1085of display device 1081 and inner edge 1121 of bezel 1085. Inner edge1121 may have length and width dimensions slightly larger than thosedefined by sides 149-153 of tray 103, 105 so that tray 103, 105 isreceived in a single location over screen 1083. A projection 147 on tray103, 105 may mate with notch 1145 on bezel 1085 to ensure that tray 103,105 is in a single orientation with wells 43 at know positions overscreen 1083 of display device 1081 of docking station 1019.

The system 1010 of FIG. 42 may be used in the same manner as previouslydescribed in connection with system 10 to hand-load, verify, unload orotherwise act on each well of blister card 13, 15, 17. System 1010exemplifies that docking station 1019, controller 1021 and tray locator1023 may be configured in various ways in accordance with the invention,including in a compact manner which may be useful to meet the needs of abroader range of pharmacies and other users.

Referring now to FIGS. 38-41, another unique aspect of system 10 is anoptional sealing workstation 245 for efficient application of a closure51 over top side 31 of blister card body 27 to close openings 47 ofblister card 13, 15, 17 and provide a finished package. Closure 51preferably provides a hermetic seal over blister card 13, 15, 17preventing medicaments 11 in wells 43 from coming into contact withambient air or contaminants.

Referring to FIGS. 38-39, workstation 245 may include a fixture 247 forholding and locating a tray 103, 105 at a repeatable position forclosing, preferably by a human user. Fixture 247 may have aninterchangeable dock 249 which holds a single size of tray 103, 105 in asingle repeatable position. Dock 249 may be interchanged with adifferent dock that holds a different size of tray 103, 105.Interchangeable dock 249 may have an opening 251 defined by side walls253, 255, 257, 259 and bottom 261. Walls 253-259 and bottom 261 may besized to closely approximate the size of one type of tray 103, 105 toform a close fit with a tray 103 or 105 to hold such tray 103, 105 in arepeatable position for closure. A properly sized tray 103, 105including a loaded blister card 13, 15, 17 is seated in dock 249.

Fixture 247 may further include a platform 263 on which a closure 51rests for attachment to blister card 13, 15, 17 in a single position. Aclip 265 may be provided on fixture 247 to hold closure 51 againstplatform 263 in a position for attachment to top side 31 of blister card13, 15, 17 in the single and repeatable manner.

Referring to FIGS. 38-41, closure 51 may be of the types previouslydescribed. In other embodiments closure 51 may comprise a uniquetri-panel closure 51 which provides a folio-type closure of blister card13, 15, 17. The tri-panel closure 51 may be a one-piece unit comprisinga front panel 267, a spine 269 and a cover panel 271. Front panel 267may be joined to spine 269 and spine 269 may be joined to cover panel271 each by separate folds forming a type of hinge enabling front panel267 and spine 269 to wrap around bottom side 33 of blister card 13, 15,17 in the direction of arrow 272 as illustrated for example in FIG. 41.Front panel 267 may be swung in the direction opposite of arrow 272 toallow a person to view the contents of each well 43 if well 43 wall 45and bottoms 49 are transparent or sufficiently light-transmissible toallow the well 43 contents to be viewed through body 27 of blister card13, 15, 17.

Cover panel 271 may be of a thin material with an adhesive coated side273 covered by a removable release liner 275. With front panel 267 onplatform in a single position confined by guide ribs 277-281, cover 271can be folded back atop front panel 267. Release liner 275 will befacing up and toward the user. Release liner 275 may next be peeled offof adhesive-coated side 273 by the user. After removal of release liner275, cover panel 271 may be folded away from front panel 267 so thatadhesive-coated side 273 may be joined to top side 31 of blister card13, 15, 17 by the adhesive. A roller 276 may be provided to pressadhesive-coated side 273 against top side 31 of blister card 13, 15, 17.Because guide ribs 277-281 hold front panel 267 in a single position,cover panel 271 is in a position which aligns cover panel 271 preciselyover blister card 13 so that any printed information on cover panelaligns precisely with each well 43 for which the information isapplicable.

Referring to FIGS. 40-41, information may be provided on closure 51 toassist the pharmacy in managing the closed blister card 13, 15, 17 andto assist the patient in taking the medicaments in accordance with theprescription order. For instance, closure 51 front panel 267 may includeinformation such as the patient name and a unique patient identifier 283(e.g., “John Doe Patient ID 12345”). The information on front panel 267may also include a unique machine-readable identification element 285(e.g., a barcode, an RFID tag, etc.) enabling the closed blister card13, 15, 17 to be tracked and enabling all data pertaining to the blistercard 13, 15, 17 to be made available to the caregiver or patient.

Referring to FIG. 40, information 287 on an inside surface of frontpanel 267 (i.e., facing bottom 33 of blister card 13, 15, 17) caninclude the patient name, date of prescription filling, and name of theRegistered Pharmacist who verified the contents of the blister card 13,15, 17 and an expiration date by which the medicaments 11 of the blistercard 13, 15, 17 must be taken. Also as indicated on FIG. 40,medicament-specific information 289 can be provided for each medicamentpackaged in the blister card, an example of which is provided forAmlodipine Besylate. For convenience and brevity, just one example ofthis information 289 is amplified in FIG. 40, it being understood thatsimilar information 289 for each medicament 11 in blister card 13, 15,17 may be represented by each use of the word “Information” on frontcover 267 in FIG. 40. The medicament-specific information 289 mayinclude the medicament name and strength 291, instructions 293 fortaking each medicament including the time of day the medicament is to betaken (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or bedtime) and a referenceimage 295 of the medicament. Other information such as refillinformation, lot number and expiration date may also be provided asdesired.

As illustrated in FIG. 41, cover panel 271 opposite and over each well43 may include well-specific information 297 further identifying thecontents of each well 43. For convenience and brevity, just one exampleof this well-specific information 297 is illustrated in FIG. 41, itbeing understood that the well-specific information 297 may be providedfor the contents of each of the 27 other wells 43. Well-specificinformation 297 may include the medicament name, quantity, and date andtime of day on which the contents of the well 43 should be pushedthrough cover panel 271, removed from the well 43, and taken by thepatient.

As illustrated in FIG. 40, an Arabic number 299 may be provided on coverpanel 271 adhesive-coated side 273 facing and over each blister card 13well 43. In the example, number 299 is indicated as “1”. The number 299may indicate the quantity of medicaments 11 that should be in thecorresponding well 43. The number 299 may be visible through thelight-transmissive well wall 45 so that a person can convenientlydetermine whether the correct quantity of medicaments 11 are in the well43 without removing closure 51.

An advantage of sealing workstation 245 is the ease and accuracy withwhich closure 51 may be joined to blister card 13, 15, 17 and theopportunity for more reliable formation of a complete closure of blistercard 13, 15, 17. In the example, the top side 107 of a tray 103, 105 maybe in the same plane as platform 263 when the tray 103, 105 is docked infixture 247 of sealing workstation 245. The top side 107 of tray 103,105 may provide a rigid structure supporting blister card 13, 15, 17.The rigidity of top side 107 may be important because blister card 13,15, 17 may be of a thin, deformable material as previously described.With wells 43 inserted through openings 161 of tray 103, 105, theblister card 13, 15, 17 bottom side 33 portions between wells 43 mayrest directly on the top side 107 of tray 103, 105 providing anon-deformable surface against which a force can be applied.Consequently, a user can press roller 276 firmly against cover panel 271to better and more completely adhere adhesive side 273 against top side31 of blister card 13, 15, 17 making the closure process faster andeasier and assuring formation of a hermetic seal of blister card 13, 15,17. The process also ensures correct alignment of cover panel 271 withany information thereon property aligned with each well 43 of the closedblister card 13, 15, 17. As was described, the process of attachingcover panel 271 to top side 31 of blister card 13, 15, 17 may be mademore efficient by means of fixture 247 which precisely aligns coverpanel 271 for attachment to blister card 13 so that any information oncover panel is always correctly associated with the well 43 to which theinformation applies.

Examples of workflow and certain methods of use of system 10 will now bedescribed in connection with FIGS. 26-37. FIGS. 26-37 representexemplary screen displays of a type which may be displayed to atechnician, pharmacist, or other user on display 25 for purposes ofimplementing aspects of system 10 workflow to load or otherwise manageblister card 13, 15, 17 and medicaments 11 or other items to be packagedin a blister card 13, 15, 17 or other type of compartmentalizedcontainer. The screen displays of FIGS. 26-37 are described herein inconnection with exemplary workflow pertaining to the embodiment of FIGS.5-16 and 25, it being understood that the workflow may be similar forother embodiments of system 10, such as the alternative embodiment ofFIGS. 17-25.

The screen displays of FIGS. 26-37 are intended to representnon-limiting examples of aspects of exemplary workflow. The content andnumber of screen displays may be modified and the information providedin the screen displays may be customized to meet the needs of theparticular retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, long-term care facilitypharmacy, mail-order pharmacy, or other operator. The selected workflowdescribed herein is intended to be an example for a fictitious patient.

Referring first to FIG. 26, a technician, registered pharmacist, orother user may initiate use of system 10 by logging into system 10 bymeans of biometric reader 239 (FIG. 25), which may be at workstation 26.Loading of a blister card 13, 15, 17 may be performed by a technicianwhile verification of the loaded blister card 13, 15, 17 may beperformed by a registered pharmacist, although regulatory requirementscan differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Referring again to FIG. 26, the user may be prompted to login to system10 by login screen 303 displayed on video display 25. The user may loginto the system 10 in various ways such as by a fingerprint scan withbiometric device 239 or by keying his or her name and password into thename and password fields 305, 307 using keyboard 236 followed byselecting Login button 309. Display 25 may be a touchscreen videodisplay and, if so, the user can merely tap the screen surface adjacentLogin button 309 or other icon or button to input information from theuser to system 10. The user's password information may be transmitted toclient computer 219, to PIS 233 residing on server 235, or to anothersuitable computer or controller, whereupon the user's status may bevalidated to use system 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 27-28, the user may next be presented with anOrders Screen 311 showing pending prescription orders awaitingfulfillment with system 10. In the examples, Order Name field 313 showsthat two patients, John Doe and Jane Doe, have prescription ordersawaiting fulfillment. All information relating to loading, verificationand overall fulfillment of the prescription orders for the two patientsshown on FIGS. 27-28 may be stored in database 197 residing in computer219 or server 235.

Also in database 197 for each prescription order may be a record of theblister card(s) 13 needed to fulfill the prescription orders forpatients John Doe and, separately, for Jane Doe, together with the typeof fixture 99 and tray(s) 103 needed to support the blister card 13 overscreen 83 of display device 81. System 10 may have a record of the exactlocation over screen 83 for the wells 43 of blister card 13 whensupported by the associated fixture 99 and tray 103 and this informationmay be in database 197. With this information, controller 21 may call upa record from database 197 of the position of each well 43 over screen83 of display device 81 and may assign an arrangement and pattern ofvisible information locations 63 on screen 83 of display device 81 sothat each region of pixels 92 under each well 43 is designated as avisible information location 63.

FIGS. 27-28 indicate that four blister cards (e.g., blister card 13)await fulfillment for fictitious patient John Doe and that a fixture 99(referred to as “Main Tray” in the figures) designated “1” has beenassigned to processing of the four blister cards 13. Tapping on screen83 next to patient name John Doe in Order Name field 313 calls patientDoe's prescription order for fulfilment from the queue of pendingprescription orders residing in database 197. After selecting John Doe'sname, field 313 is highlighted (e.g., with a bolded border) and thestatus of the order is changed to “ReadyForCheck” 315 (FIG. 28). Otherrelevant information may be presented on any of the screen displays,such as current date and time of day information 317 shown as nullvalues representative of the fictitious nature of the patienttransaction.

Referring next to FIG. 29, the Select Fixture screen 319 appears ondisplay 25, prompting the user to select one of the assigned emptyfixtures 99. (In the examples, the fixture 99 is again referred to as a“Main Tray”). The fixture 99 may be selected from what may be aplurality of empty fixtures 99 used by the pharmacy. In this example,the fixture 99 assigned by system 10 to the prescription order and to beselected by the user is a 4-position fixture 99 of the type illustratedin FIGS. 5-14 as indicated by the instructions in database 197 in thisexample. Window 321 prompts the user to scan the machine-readableidentification element 175 on a handle 125 of fixture 99 designated withthe number “1”. As previously described, any machine-readableidentification element 175 may suffice. A 2-D barcode is an example. Theuser may also be prompted to manually enter the fixture 99machine-readable identification element 175 (“1” in this example) intofield 323 using keyboard 235 and/or mouse followed by touching Ok button324 to indicate to system 10 that the information identifying theselected fixture 99 has been added to field 323. As a result of theforegoing steps, a record may be created in the file for patient JohnDoe's prescription order which may reside in database 197 that fixture99 is associated with patient John Doe's prescription order. Fixture 99may be placed upon docking station 19 over display device 81 screen 83bounded by bezel inner edge 121 in a single position to await assignmentof blister card trays 103 to the prescription order.

Turning next to FIG. 30, Select Blister Card Tray screen 325 may appearon display 25 once a record is created that fixture 99 has beenassociated with patient John Doe's prescription order. Select BlisterCard Tray screen 325 may prompt the user to associate four blister cardtrays 103 in a stepwise manner with the fixture 99 and to associate eachtray 103 with a known one of the four fixture 99 positions 131 indicatedby numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 on bezel 85.

In this example, the trays 103 assigned by system 10 to the prescriptionorder and to be selected by the user are 28 opening trays 103 of thetype illustrated in FIGS. 8, 12, and 13A-16 as indicated by theinstructions in database 197 in this example. Select Blister Card Trayscreen 325 prompts the user to select a tray 103 of a 28 opening type tosupport a one week compliance container form of blister card 13 asindicated by the date and time of day instructions 327 informationdisplayed on screen 325. Window 329 may appear to prompt the user toscan the machine-readable identification element 191 which may be on ahandle 169 of tray 103. As described above in connection with fixture103, any machine-readable identification element 191 may suffice and a2-D barcode is merely one example. Also as with fixture 99, the user maybe prompted to manually enter the tray 103 machine-readableidentification element 191 into field 331 using keyboard 235 and/ormouse 237 followed by touching Ok button 328 to indicate to system 10that the information identifying the selected tray 103 has been entered.

Referring again to FIG. 30, separate groups of rectangles 329, 331, 333each representative of a tray 103 and blister card 13 thereon may besequentially displayed on Select Blister Card Tray screen 325 as themachine-readable identification element 191 of each tray 103 is read.The user is prompted to place tray 103 at the indicated tray-locatingposition 131 of fixture 99 by the respective group of rectangles 329,331, 333 (e.g., positions 1, 2, 3, 4 indicated by reference number 89).Before doing so, the user may scan the machine readable information 179,181, 183, 185 associated with the indicated tray-locating position 131,thereby associating the unique identifier 191 of each tray 103 with theunique address and position 131 of fixture 99 in the file for patientJohn Doe's prescription order which may reside in database 197.

Select Blister Card Tray screen 325 may be updated as themachine-readable identification element 191 identifying each tray 103 isadded to the record. Select Blister Card Tray screen 325 of FIG. 30 isin a state reflective that two trays 103 have previously been associatedwith patient John Doe's prescription order as indicated by the presenceof the two groups 329, 331 of 28 rectangles in the upper left and rightquadrants of FIG. 30 representative of blister card 103 wells 43. Inthis example, the first two trays 103 would be docked or seated intray-locating positions 131 as indicated by positions 1 and 2 on bezel85.

According to the example of FIG. 30, the user is being prompted to reada machine-readable identification element 191 on a third tray 103 asindicated by the difference in appearance of the third group ofrectangles 333 in the lower left quadrant of the figure. As a prompt touser, this third group 333 of rectangles may be emphasized byhighlighting (e.g., by darkening). A fourth group of rectangles mayappear in the lower right quadrant 335 once third tray 103 and machinereadable information 185 for the designated tray-locating position 131is read and a record is created in the prescription order file residingon database 197.

As a result of the foregoing scanning and associating steps, a record iscreated in the file for patient John Doe's prescription order which mayreside in database 197 that four trays 103 and their unique identifiers191 are docked at a known tray-locating position 131 of fixture 99.

Each tray 103 may be constrained at a tray-locating position 131 offixture 99 by fixture walls 133-139 and ledges 141, 143, notch 145 andprojection 147 in a single position on fixture 99 precisely known tosystem 10 to await loading of blister cards 13 supported by trays 103.

Referring now to FIG. 31, the process of selecting a medicament 11 to behand-loaded into blister card 13 commences with the Select Drug screen337. Information which may be presented on Select Drug screen 337 may bestored in the patient's file residing in database 197 and may include apatient name field 339, a tray field 341 indicating that four trays 103are to be hand-loaded and a medicament type field 343 indicating thetypes of medicaments 11 to be hand-loaded to fulfill patient John Doe'sprescription order. In this example, four different medicament 11 typesare required, but any quantity of medicaments may be utilized dependingon what is to be loaded in blister card 13, 15, 17. Each medicament typemay include fields for the primary and secondary name of medicament 345,347, medicament strength 349, National Drug Code (NDC) and Customer NDC351, 353, manufacturer name 355 and quantity 357 required for the fourblister cards 13 to be loaded in this example.

A Filled field 359 may be provided to indicate when each medicament 11has been confirmed as loaded and a reference image 361 field may providea reference image of the shape, color, or other physical attributes of amedicament 11 selected for hand-loading. All of the aforementionedinformation may be provided to assist the user in confirming that thecorrect medicament 11 has been selected for loading into wells 43 ofblister packages 13 supported on a tray 103. The information on SelectDrug screen 337, like the other screens described herein is an exampleonly and may be modified and supplemented as needed.

Referring further to FIG. 31 and to FIG. 32, touching of the row 360 oftouchscreen display 25 for the medicament 11 Amlodipine Besylate causesthat row 360 to be highlighted (FIG. 32), indicating to the user thatfulfillment for the selected medicament 11 is in process by system 10.Medicaments 11 in the three other rows remain un-highlighted indicatingthat these medicaments 11 await selection.

Continuing with FIG. 31, once row 360 for Amlodipine Besylate is touchedby the user, window 363 may appear to prompt the user to select a supplycontainer 241 (FIG. 25) of the Amlodipine Besylate from pharmacy stock.Window 363 may display instructions 365 to scan a barcode 367 on supplycontainer 241 with code reader 195. Window 363 may also include a field369 with the medication name and NDC to enable the user to visuallycheck this information against the corresponding information on supplycontainer 241. The user may be prompted to manually enter the NDC fromsupply container 241 if the scan is inoperative by keying the NDC intoidentification field 371 using keyboard 235 and/or mouse 237 followed bytouching Ok button 372 to indicate to system 10 that the informationfrom the supply container 241 has been entered into identification field371.

Referring now to FIG. 32, Loading screen 373 for loading the first typeof medicament 11 may next appear on video display 25. In the example,Loading screen 373 may appear if the code of supply container 241matches the expected code for the Amlodipine Besylate medicament 11residing in file on database 197. Loading screen 373 may provide theuser with the same information as on Select Drug screen 337, includingpatient name field 339, tray field 341, and medicament type field 343with the information previously described in connection with FIG. 31.The information on Loading screen 373 may, or course, be modified andsupplemented as needed.

Referring again to FIG. 32, tray field 341 indicates four trays 103 andblister cards 13 are to be loaded. Rectangle symbols 375 correspondingto each of the 28 wells 43 of the blister card may be displayed. System10 may change tray field 341 to highlight (e.g., darken or change thecolor) the rectangles into which a medicament 11 is to be loaded. Anumber 379 (“1” in this example), may be displayed in each highlightedrectangle 375 to indicate the number of units of Amlodipine Besylate tobe loaded in each highlighted well 43. In this examples, thehighlighting (e.g., by darkening or color change) of certain of therectangles 375 indicates wells 43 that are in the “yes” state and shouldbe loaded with Amlodipine Besylate while the un-highlighted rectangles375 indicate wells 43 that are in the “no” and which should not beloaded. Other symbology may be utilized. All that is needed is some wayto differentiate between the “yes” and “no” states.

Referring to FIGS. 10-13A, simultaneously with highlighting ofrectangles 375, controller 21 operates display device 81 to activate theregions of pixels 92 of screen 83 providing visible informationlocations 63 under each well 43 and into which a unit of AmlodipineBesylate is to be hand-loaded by the user. FIG. 12 illustrates thatvisible information 65 provided by visible information locations 63 isvisible to a human user through openings 161 and through thelight-transmissive wells 43. FIG. 13A illustrates a unit of AmlodipineBesylate that has been hand-loaded in each indicated well 43. The useris able to see each medicament 11 a as it enters each indicated well 43,ensuring accuracy. This loading process is rapid, efficient and easybecause the user can immediately visually compare the visibleinformation 65, the well 43 and the medicament to confirm eachmedicament 11 is in the indicated well 43.

After all highlighted wells 43 have been hand-loaded as required bydocking station 19 and by the instructions on Loading screen 373, theuser can touch the Filled button 359 providing input to system 10 thatall required units of Amlodipine Besylate have been hand loaded into allfour trays 103 of this example.

Referring now to FIG. 33, Loading screen 373 may be updated for loadingof the next medicament 11. The updated Loading screen 373 may indicate asecond type of medicament 11 b which is to be loaded in blister cards 13supported by four trays 103 located over display device 81 on dockingstation 19. The second type of medicament 11 in this example may beMemantine HCL, and the row 360 corresponding to this medicament 11 b isautomatically highlighted on Loading screen 373 by system 10.

The process described in connection with FIGS. 31-32 may then berepeated for the second type of medicament 11 b following loading screen373 of FIG. 32. As described previously, a supply container 241 forMemantine HCL may be scan verified by reading a barcode 367 on supplycontainer 241 with code reader 195 to confirm that the container 241correctly matches John Doe's prescription order.

Also as described previously and as illustrated in the example of FIG.33, system 10 may change tray field 341 to highlight (e.g., by darkeningor color change) the set of rectangles 275 into which a unit ofMemantine HCL medicament 11 b is to be placed. In the example,highlighted rectangle symbols 375 of FIG. 33 are different from those ofFIG. 32. A number 379, which again is “1” in this example, may bedisplayed in each highlighted rectangle 375 to indicate the number ofunits of Memantine HCL to be placed in each highlighted well 43. Thehighlighting (e.g., by darkening or color change) of certain rectangles375 on Loading screen 373 of FIG. 33 indicates the set of wells 43 thatare in the “yes” state and that should be loaded with Memantine HCLwhile un-highlighted rectangles 375 indicate the set of wells 43 thatare in the “no” and which should not be loaded.

Referring to FIG. 13B, simultaneously with highlighting of rectangles375 on Loading screen 373 of FIG. 33, controller 21 may operate displaydevice 81 to activate the regions of pixels 92 of screen 83 providingvisible information locations 63 under each well 43 and into which aunit of Memantine HCL is to be hand-loaded by the user. FIG. 13B againillustrates that visible information 65 provided by visible informationlocations 63 is visible to a human user through openings 161 and throughthe light-transmissive wells 43. Again, the user is able to see eachmedicament 11 b enter the indicated well 43 as the user's hand loads themedicament 11 b into each indicated well 43, thereby ensuring accuracy.FIG. 13B illustrates that a unit of Memantine HCL medicament 11 b hasbeen hand-loaded in each indicated well 43 together with the units ofAmlodipine Besylate that were previously loaded into the tray 103. Onceagain, the user can touch Filled button 359 to indicate to system 10that the required Memantine HCL units have been properly loaded inaccordance with the visible information 65.

Loading screen 373 and docking station 19 are then updated for the nextmedicament 11 to be loaded and the process of hand-loading using visibleinformation 65 provided at visible information locations 63 is repeateduntil all medicaments 11 are loaded into each blister package 13. Arecord may be created in the file which may be residing in database 197that the four trays 103 of this example have been loaded withmedicaments 11 as required by John Doe's prescription order.

Preferably, a transparent cover 171 is affixed by the user over eachloaded blister card 13 and tray 103 as previously described to keep themedicament 11 contents of each well 43 in place and to protectmedicaments 11 from any contamination. Fixture 99 may be lifted fromdocking station 19 and stacked with other fixtures 99 or otherwise bestored for future verification or sealing of blister cards 13. Or,verification may be performed immediately after completion of thehand-loading.

Referring now to FIGS. 34-36, each loaded blister card (blister card 13in the example) may optionally be verified by a registered pharmacist orother authorized user to ensure that each well 43 has been loaded withthe correct medicament 11. The verification may be performed beforeapplication of closure 51 to blister card 13.

FIG. 34 shows an exemplary Orders screen 383 which may include a field385 showing the filled patient prescription orders awaitingverification. In the example, the prescription order for patients JohnDoe and Jane Doe await verification. Touching display 25 near thepatient name John Doe 387 causes system 10 to display further fields(which may be highlighted by, for example, providing a bold border asindicated on FIG. 34). A field 389 may be provided showing theidentification number (e.g., “1”) of fixture 99 (again labeled “MainTray”) holding the loaded blister cards 103 to be verified. A field 391may be displayed showing the number of loaded blister cards 103 (e.g.,“4”) on the fixture 99 awaiting verification. A field 393 may bedisplayed indicating the status of the prescription order as being readyfor verification (indicated as “ReadyForCheck” in the example) all toassist the user in locating and confirming the blister cards 103 of theprescription order to be verified. For example, the user may need toretrieve fixture 99 with loaded blister cards 103 from a storagelocation, and fixture identification code 175 of “1” in this example mayassist with locating the required fixture 99. It is envisioned thatother fixtures 99 would have identification numbers other than 1,allowing for each fixture to be easily differentiated by visualinspection. Transparent cover 171 may remain affixed over each loadedblister card 13 and tray 103 during verification or cover 171 may beremoved as desired.

Referring further to Orders screen 383 of FIG. 35, once the prescriptionorder to be verified (e.g., for patient John Doe in the example) isselected as described above, system 10 may display a Login window 395which enables a registered pharmacist or other authorized person to haveaccess to system 10 for verification of the selected prescription order.The information displayed on Login screen 395 is essentially identicalto that displayed in connection with Login screen 303 of FIG. 26. Forconvenience and simplicity, reference numbers of information displayedon Login screen 303 are used again to identify corresponding fields ofLogin screen 395.

Referring again to FIG. 35, a registered pharmacist, or other user maylogin to system 10 for verification, for example, by a fingerprint scanwith biometric device 239 or by keying his or her name password into thename and password fields 305, 307 using keyboard 236 and followed byselecting Login button 309. As with Login screen 303 of FIG. 26, theuser's password information may be transmitted to client computer 219,to PIS 233 residing on server 235, or to another suitable computer orcontroller, whereupon the user's status is validated for verificationand a record may be created in the file in database 197 for theprescription order identifying the person performing the verification aswell as the date and time of the verification.

Referring to FIG. 13C and FIG. 36, system 10 may automatically generatea Verification screen 399 following successful login and authorizationof the user's credentials by system 10. Verification screen 399 mayinclude information required for verification of the medicaments 11loaded into wells 43 of each blister card 13 of the prescription orderselected for verification. Verification screen 399 may operate inconjunction with docking station 19 to identify each well 43 andmedicament 11 a that should be in each well 43 so that the user canconfirm that the content of each well 43 is correct and in accordancewith the prescription order. The information displayed on Verificationscreen 399 may be essentially identical to that displayed in connectionwith Loading screen 373 of FIGS. 32-33. For convenience and simplicity,reference numbers of information displayed on Loading screen 373 areused again to identify corresponding fields of information onVerification screen 399.

Verification screen 399 may provide the user with information includingthe patient name (e.g., John Doe) in patient name field 339, blistercard wells 43 to be verified in tray field 341 and a medicament typefield 343 which indicates the medicament type (e.g., AmlodipineBesylate) that should be in each indicated well 43. The information onVerification screen 399 may, of course, be modified and supplemented asneeded.

Referring again to FIG. 36, tray field 341 of the example provides fourgroups of rectangles 375 indicating that the prescription order forpatient John Doe includes four trays 103 and that there are four loadedblister cards 13 to be verified. Once again, rectangle symbols 375corresponding to each of the 28 wells 43 of each blister card 13 may bedisplayed to the user on display 25.

In the example of FIG. 36, the user may start verification by touchingof row 360 of touchscreen display 25 for the medicament 11 a AmlodipineBesylate. The touching causes row 360 for Amlodipine Besylate to behighlighted (e.g., by a bold border as indicated in FIG. 36) indicatingto the user that verification is in process by system 10. Medicaments 11in the three other rows 362, 364, 366 remain un-highlighted, indicatingthat these medicaments 11 await verification.

Touching of row 360 to select Amlodipine Besylate for verification maycause system 10 to update tray field 341 to highlight (e.g. by darkeningof color change) rectangles 375 to indicate the wells 43 into whichAmlodipine Besylate medicament 11 a was loaded in this example. A number379 (e.g., “1”) may be displayed in each highlighted rectangle 375 toindicate the number of units of Amlodipine Besylate that should havebeen loaded in each indicated highlighted well 43 in this example. Thechange in highlighting of certain of the rectangles 375 indicates the“yes” state wells 43 that should contain Amlodipine Besylate while theun-highlighted rectangles 375 indicate the “no” state wells 43 whichshould not contain Amlodipine Besylate. A reference image 361 showingthe shape, color, and any other physical attributes of the AmlodipineBesylate may be provided.

Referring to FIG. 13C, simultaneously with highlighting of rectangles375 on display 25, controller 21 may operate display device 81 toactivate the regions of pixels 92 providing visible informationlocations 63 under each well 43 and into which a unit of AmlodipineBesylate was previously hand-loaded. FIG. 13C illustrates an example ofthe visible information 65 viewable by a user through tray openings 161and light-transmissive wells 43 for one of the trays 103 and blistercards 13 at position 1 (indicated on bezel 85, reference number 89) offixture 99. The user can then look into each indicated well 43 andconfirm that the type of medicament 11 a and amount of medicament 11 amatches the information on display 25 and the Verification screen 399.All indicated wells 43 may be inspected as required by the informationoutput from display device 81 of docking station 19 and by theinstructions on Verification screen 399. Subsequently, the user cantouch the Checked button 401 providing input to system 10 that allrequired units of Amlodipine Besylate have been verified as correct inall four trays 103 of this example.

In the example, the process of verifying the medicaments 11 in blistercards 13 may be repeated for each medicament 11 by means of Verificationscreen 399 and visible information 65 provided by visible informationlocations 63 until all medicaments 11 in each blister card 13 areverified as correct. Once Tray Filled button 359 on Verification screen399 of display 25 is touched by the user following verification of thefinal medicament 11, a signal may be sent to computer 219 indicating tosystem 10 that each blister card 13 has been fully verified and that themedicament 11 contents are in the correct wells 43 ready for applicationof a closure 51 to each blister card 13. A record may be made of theverified medicament 11 contents of blister card wells 43 which may bestored in the file for the prescription order residing in database 197on computer 219 (or server 235). Such a record is useful in furtherconfirming that the correct medicaments 11 were loaded in each blistercard 13.

Any errors identified during verification can be corrected, for example,by changing the contents of the well 43 or by rejecting the entireblister card 13.

As is apparent from the foregoing workflow examples, no paperinstructions are required to load each blister card 13, thereby makingthe loading and verification process faster, more efficient and moreaccurate because the user is able to follow the instructions on display25 and the instructions represented by the visible information 65proximate each blister card well 43 which indicates each well 43 to beloaded, verified, or otherwise acted on.

Following successful verification, fixture 99 and trays 103 (which maybe covered by cover 171) may be lifted from docking station 19 by theuser and may be stacked with other fixtures 99 for future application ofclosure 51 to each blister card 13. Or, the workflow may move directlyto closure of the blister cards 13.

Examples of workflow for closure of blister cards 13 and workflow usingclosure workstation 245 may be understood by reference to FIGS. 37-41.Closure 51 applied to a blister card 13, 15, 17 may be a tri-panelclosure 51 of the type previously described and illustrated in FIGS.40-41 or may be any suitable closure, such as paperboard or foil.

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of a Closure screen 403 which may bedisplayed to a user on display 25. Information on Closure screen 403 mayprompt the user to apply a closure 51 to each loaded blister card 13 sothat a patient-specific closure is associated with loaded blister card13, 15, 17 and so that a sealed blister card 13, 15, 17 may be deliveredto the patient.

Closure screen 403 of FIG. 37 may include rows 405, 407, 409, 411indicating filled blister cards 13 waiting for application of a closure51. The rows 405, 407, 409, 411 in CARD ID field 413 may indicate aunique identification number of each tray 103 in which a blister card 13is supported (e.g., identification numbers 65, 66, 67), the status 415of the blister card 13 in each tray 103, and the status 417 of whetherblister card 13 in each tray 103 is sealed. In addition, four groups ofrectangles 419, 421, 423, 425 may be displayed on Closure screen 403representative of the 28 wells of four loaded blister cards 13 onseparate blister card trays 103 docked on a fixture 99 identified by anidentification number 427 (e.g., fixture number “1”).

Touching of any row, such as row 405, may cause the selected row to behighlighted (for example by a bold border as in FIG. 37) indicating tothe user that closure of a blister card 13 is in process by system 10.The blister cards 13 in this example represented by the three other rows407, 409, 411 remain un-highlighted indicating that these blister cards13 await closure.

Touching of row 405 may cause system 10 to highlight (e.g., by darkeningor color change) the rectangles 419 at the location of fixture 99 wherethe tray 103 to be closed is located to prompt the user to grasp thecorrect tray 103. Also in response to touching of a row 405, window 429may appear on closure screen 403. Window 429 prompts the user to scanthe machine-readable identification element 191 of the indicated tray103 with code reader 195. Scanning of machine-readable element 191 oftray 103 may cause system 10 to call up a file for the tray 103 andblister card 13 supported thereon and triggers printer 243 to print apatient-specific closure 51 with the pertinent information for blistercard 13 which may be as described previously. The user may be promptedto manually enter tray 103 machine-readable identification element 191into field 431 using keyboard 235 and/or mouse to indicate to system 10the tray 103 that was selected. Closure 51 may include all of theinformation previously described.

Next, the selected and identified blister card tray 103 with loadedblister card 13 may be placed in dock 249 of sealing station fixture247. If a cover 171 is attached to tray 103 over blister card 13 and itscontents, then cover 171 may be removed. A tri-panel closure 51 withinformation applied by printer 243 may be applied to blister card 13 aspreviously described to create a finished and sealed patient-specificblister card 13. Touching of the Sealed button 433 may generate a signalto computer 219 indicating to system 10 that blister card 13 has beensuccessfully closed and that the loading process for that blister card13 has been completed.

In the example, the process of selecting a tray 103 and blister card 13for sealing may be repeated for each blister card 13 by means of Closurescreen 403. Once the Sealed button 433 on Closure screen 403 of display25 is touched by the user following closure of the final blister card 13of fixture 99, a signal may be sent to computer 219 indicating to system10 that each blister card 13 has been fully closed and that the blistercards 13 are complete and ready for delivery to the patient. A recordmay be made of the closure and completion of each blister card 13 whichmay be stored in the file for the prescription order residing indatabase 197 on computer 219 (or server 235). Such a record is useful infurther confirming that packaging of the medicaments 11 was fullycompleted in accordance with the prescription order.

The systems, apparatus, and methods are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood, however, that the descriptionherein of specific embodiments and methods is not intended to limit theinvention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A compartmentalized containerloading system for rapid and accuratehand-loading of items into a container, each container having alight-transmissive body and spaced apart compartments arranged in one ofa plurality of patterns in which the compartment patterns have (1)different numbers of compartments, and (2) different spacing between thecompartments, the system comprising: a docking station including a videodisplay which is overlaid by a container selected for loading, thedisplay providing visible information locations on the display which areoperable in the plurality of different patterns including thecompartment pattern of the selected container when such containeroverlies the display such that each visible information location of thepattern provides visible information viewable through the body proximateeach compartment; a container locator associated with the display, thelocator providing at least one container-locating position which locatesthe compartments of the selected container at known positions of thedisplay; and a controller operative to control the visible informationlocations on the display at the known positions to match the compartmentpattern of the selected container to provide the visible informationproximate each compartment.
 2. The compartmentalized containerloadingsystem of claim 1 wherein each compartmentalized container is a blistercard.
 3. The compartmentalized containerloading system of claim 2wherein the compartments are wells.
 4. The compartmentalizedcontainerloading system of claim 3 wherein the visible informationlocations on the display are operable to provide the visible informationthrough each well of each compartment pattern.
 5. The compartmentalizedcontainerloading system of claim 3 wherein the visible informationlocations provide visible information on the display selected from thegroup consisting of light information and image information.
 6. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 5 wherein the displayis selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode (LED)display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a liquidcrystal display (LCD) display, and a plasma display.
 7. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 5 wherein thecontainer locator comprises: a fixture associated with a single locationof the docking station and having at least one tray-locating positionoverlying the display; and at least one portable tray receivable at asingle position in each tray-locating position to support a blister cardthereon with the wells over known positions of the display such thatvisible information is viewable through the wells.
 8. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 7 wherein each atleast one each tray-locating position is defined by a plurality offixture walls and the tray is sized to fit within the walls in thesingle position.
 9. The compartmentalized containerloading system ofclaim 8 wherein the fixture defines a plurality of the tray-locatingpositions enabling plural trays to be simultaneously over differentportions of the display.
 10. The compartmentalized containerloadingsystem of claim 9 wherein the fixture is a first fixture and the firstfixture is interchangeable with a second fixture which has a number oftray-locating positions different from the first fixture.
 11. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 8 wherein thefixtures include stacking structure enabling each fixture to be loadedwith at least one tray and stacked atop another fixture.
 12. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 7 wherein the traycomprises: a top side supporting a blister card and definingwell-receiving openings in a pattern matching the pattern of the wellsand through which the wells are inserted; and an open bottom under eachopening enabling the visible information to be viewed through theopening when the tray is over the display.
 13. The compartmentalizedcontainerloading system of claim 12 wherein the tray is a first tray andthe first tray is interchangeable with a second tray.
 14. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 13 wherein the trayincludes handles.
 15. The compartmentalized containerloading system ofclaim 13 further including a removable temporary cover configured tooverlie the tray and a blister card supported thereon.
 16. Thecompartmentalized containerloading system of claim 13 further includinga unique machine-readable identification element associated with each ofthe fixtures, the at least one tray-locating position, and each traysuch that association of a tray with the at least one tray-locatingposition and the fixture enables the system to identify the knownpositions of the wells over the display.
 17. The compartmentalizedcontainerloading system of claim 16 wherein the machine-readableidentification elements are selected from the group consisting of alinear barcode, a 2-D barcode, and a radio frequency identification tag(RFID).
 18. The compartmentalized containerloading system of claim 16further including a further video display operatively connected to thecontroller to display information indicating each well into which anitem is to be loaded.
 19. The compartmentalized container loading systemof claim 13 further including a sealing workstation for application of atri-panel closure to a loaded blister card, the sealing workstationhaving: a fixture including a dock sized to receive a tray and a loadedblister card thereon in a single position; a platform with guidestructure adjacent the dock; a tri-panel closure including a coverportion which overlies the loaded blister card and has anadhesive-coated side with a release liner facing the blister card, aspine attached to the cover portion, and a front portion attached to thespine and held at a single position on the platform by the guide tothereby locate the cover portion over the blister card at a singleposition, whereby, the cover portion may be folded away from the blistercard to remove the release liner and then folded back onto the blistercard to join the cover portion to the blister card sealing the blistercard with the front portion being folded around and over a bottom sideof the blister card.
 20. The compartmentalized container loading systemof claim 19 further including patient-specific information on thetri-panel closure describing medicament items in the blister card andthe date and time at which the medicaments are to be taken by thepatient.